Mortality related to hypertension and blood pressure in Spain

BACKGROUND: Given the high figures of cardiovascular disease and hypertensi on in Spain, and the continuity of cardiovascular and total mortality risks at any level of blood pressure, mortality related to hypertension and bloo d pressure is estimated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood pressure distribution from a representative sam ple of the 35 to 64 years old Spanish population and the relative risks for death coming from valid and reasonably generalizable international studies (MRFIT, Framingham and Chicago Project) were used. The proportions and abs olute numbers of cardiovascular and total deaths related to blood pressure and hypertension (categories of the US Joint National Committee VI [JNC VI] ) have been calculated in middle-aged men and women. RESULTS: As many as 42% of the coronary deaths, 46.4% of the stroke deaths and 25.5% of the total deaths are related to hypertension (greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg), most of them in stages 1 and 2, It follows high-norm al plus normal blood pressure group (8.3, 10.2 and 6.2% of these deaths, re spectively). All together, 17,266 total deaths and 4,502 cardiovascular dea ths related to blood pressure took place annually, three-quarters of them i n males. Over the last ones, 65.5% are coronary and 34.5% cerebrovascular, prevailing the first ones in bath sexes. Eight out of 10 deaths, cardiovasc ular or total, related to blood pressure are concentrated in the hypertensi on categories, and two out of 10 in the high-normal or normal blood pressur e groups. CONCLUSIONS: One out of 3 total deaths and one out of 2 cardiovascular deat hs are related to blood pressure. One out of 4 total deaths and one out of 2.5 cardiovascular deaths me related to hypertension. A substantial part of these deaths come from stages 1 and 2 hypertension and from high-normal an d normal blood pressure group.