RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CALCITROPHIC HORMONES AND BLOOD-PRESSURE IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS

The relationship between calcitrophic hormones and blood pressure has been investigated in 583 elderly subjects who were untreated for hyper tension. Univariate analysis demonstrated that serum parathyroid hormo ne, calcitriol, albumin and calcium were correlated significantly with mean blood pressure (r = +0.15, +0.10, +0.14 and +0.11, respectively) , as were body mass index and age (r = +0.19 and +0.10, respectively). Parathyroid hormone also was correlated positively with both age and calcitriol (r = +0.34 and +0.15, respectively) and negatively with pla sma calcium and albumin (r = -0.09 and -0.09, respectively). Multivari ate analysis demonstrated that when allowing for age and body mass ind ex, parathyroid hormone and calcitriol were both significant independe nt determinants of the mean blood pressure. When other independent var iables were included in the analysis, parathyroid hormone but not calc itriol remained a significant predictor of mean blood pressure. This s tudy has demonstrated a weak but significant relationship between bloo d pressure and calcitrophic hormones in a group of elderly people. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that hypertension may be due in part to calcium deficiency.