Coronary Heart Disease Events Preventable by Control of Blood Pressure and Lipids in US Adults With Hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension (HTN) and dyslipidemia are major risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). In 676 (projected to 26.1 million) US persons from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 with HTN, the authors estimated the preventable CHD events from statistical control of blood pressure (BP) and lipid levels. Using Framingham algorithms, the authors projected the CHD events that could be prevented from statistical control of BP, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. If BP was controlled to nominal levels, the authors projected 19% of CHD events (37% if controlled to optimal) would be prevented. Improving lipid levels to nominal levels was estimated to prevent 27% of CHD events (62% if controlled to optimal). Combined control of BP and lipid levels to nominal levels was projected to prevent 38% of CHD events (76% if controlled to optimal). The authors' results demonstrate that combined control of BP and lipid levels may prevent the majority of CHD events in Americans with HTN.