New Orleans, Louisiana — A recent study reveals that effectively managing multiple risk factors for heart disease can substantially lower the chances of premature death among individuals with high blood pressure. The research underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach in addressing hypertension, a leading cause of death worldwide.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, has been the subject of extensive investigation, often focusing on single risk factors such as diet. However, the current study—the result of collaboration between researchers from the United States and China—explores the combined effects of various cardiovascular risks on hypertension management.
Professor Lu Qi, the study’s lead author and Director of the Obesity Research Centre at Tulane University, emphasized the significance of their findings. “Our study shows that a coordinated management of health risks can counteract the heightened mortality associated with hypertension,” Qi stated.
The research involved a substantial dataset from the UK Biobank, which included nearly 295,000 adults. Among them were 70,898 individuals diagnosed with hypertension and 224,069 selected as matched controls, all of whom had no prior diagnoses of cancer or heart disease. Participants were monitored for an average of 13.5 years to assess the long-term impacts of multiple risk factors.
The study focused on eight modifiable cardiovascular risk factors: blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, glycated hemoglobin, urinary protein levels, smoking, and physical activity. Researchers used advanced statistical models to analyze how effectively controlling these factors influenced premature death rates.
Results indicated that participants who managed a greater number of risk factors experienced significantly lower risks of premature death. Specifically, hypertensive individuals who maintained optimal control of at least seven out of the eight risk factors saw a 40% reduction in premature death from any cause. The study also reported a 39% decrease in cancer-related deaths and a 53% drop in deaths due to cardiovascular issues. Conversely, individuals who managed a minimum of four risk factors reported no greater risk of early death compared to those without high blood pressure.
The findings suggest a pressing need for a more holistic approach to hypertension treatment, encouraging healthcare providers to look beyond isolated risk factors. Qi reiterated the study’s implications, stating, “This research highlights the necessity for comprehensive clinical strategies that target multiple risk factors at once to reduce the risk of early death among those with high blood pressure.”
This study serves as a timely reminder of the complexities of managing hypertension and presents a compelling case for shifting clinical practices to improve health outcomes for millions affected by high blood pressure. The findings were published in the journal Precision Clinical Medicine.