"Prehypertension Stage Associated with 1.37 Times Higher Prevalence of Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis"

Seoul Asan Hospital Professor Lee Seunghwan "Need to Reset Domestic Hypertension Standards"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Professor Lee Seung-hwan and Professor Lee Pil-hyung of the Cardiology Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center, along with Professor Yoon Yong-hoon of the Cardiology Department at Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, announced on the 23rd that an analysis of the risk of coronary artery atherosclerosis in patients with prehypertension and normal blood pressure groups based on domestic standards showed that the prehypertension group had a 1.37 times higher risk of developing coronary artery atherosclerosis compared to the normal control group.

Coronary artery atherosclerosis refers to a condition where cholesterol deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart, forming a hard fibrous plaque called an atheroma. When the atheroma ruptures, thrombosis occurs, narrowing or blocking the blood vessels. This condition impairs the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, leading to heart diseases such as angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and arrhythmia.

The research team conducted a study on 4,666 individuals who underwent coronary artery computed tomography (CT) at the Health Promotion Center of Seoul Asan Medical Center from 2007 to 2011, who had no heart disease and had never taken antihypertensive medication.

The study subjects were classified and analyzed according to the American hypertension guidelines into normal group (120/80 mmHg), prehypertension (120?129/80 mmHg), stage 1 hypertension (130?139/80?89 mmHg), and stage 2 hypertension (140/90 mmHg). The prevalence of coronary artery atherosclerosis was found to be 1.12 times higher in the prehypertension group, 1.37 times higher in stage 1 hypertension, and 1.66 times higher in stage 2 hypertension compared to the normal blood pressure group.

While the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology lowered the hypertension diagnostic criteria from 140/90 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) to 130/80 mmHg in 2017, Europe and South Korea have maintained the existing standard of 140/90 mmHg.

Professor Lee Seung-hwan of the Cardiology Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center stated, "The hypertension diagnostic criteria in South Korea have not changed for about 20 years. This study proves that prehypertension is significantly correlated with coronary artery atherosclerosis, and it is expected to make an important contribution to the future reestablishment of domestic hypertension diagnostic criteria and the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases."

The results of this study were published in the latest issue of the international journal, American Journal of Hypertension.

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