Coronary artery disease and arterial hypertension: clinical, angiographic and follow-up data

Objectives. To evaluate how the presence of arterial hypertension affects c oronary atherosclerosis and prognosis in patients with, or at high risk of, ischaemic heart disease. Design. Retrospective analysis of clinical records and follow-up data. Settings. Single referral centre for ischaemic heart disease. Subjects. All consecutive patients (n = 1700, 38% with hypertension) underg oing coronary angiography for the evaluation of ischaemic heart disease dur ing 1983-92. Results. On angiography, the likelihood of having three-vessel disease was higher amongst hypertensives (odds ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval [C I] = 1.08-1.85) after adjustment for age, sex, and angina symptoms. The sum of all visible stenoses (an index of overall atherosclerotic involvement) was 19% higher in hypertensives (262 +/- 204 vs. 220 +/- 194 units, P < 0.0 05). By multivariate analysis, the presence of hypertension made a modest ( + 28 units), albeit statistically significant, independent contribution to the total atherosclerosis score. On follow-up (median = 96 months), cardiov ascular mortality was slightly higher in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensive group (P < 0.05 in a Kaplan-Meier analysis), but a proport ional hazard analysis adjusting for age and gender showed no significant in dependent contribution of hypertension. Hypertensive patients, however, rem ained at higher risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction following discharge (adjusted odds ratio = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.03-1.46; P < 0.05). Conclusions. In this referral population, hypertension is a risk factor for presence of three-vessel disease. Distribution, severity and extension of coronary stenosis are similar to those of normotensive patients, and progno sis is only marginally affected.