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Isolated systolic hypertension: data on a cohort of young subjects from a French working population (IHPAF)

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 17, pages 93–100 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH)—systolic blood pressure (SBP) ⩾140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <90 mmHg—have increased mortality and morbidity. The aim was to study the incidence of ISH in a younger population of between 15 and 60 years of age, and to measure pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in these subjects. The study population consisted of 27 783 subjects, aged 15–60 years, untreated for hypertension (HT) from a cohort of employees formed to study the incidence of HT in the French working population (AIHFP). BP and HR were measured with a validated, automatic device after 5, 6 and 7 min at rest. The prevalence of ISH was 6.9% in men, 2.3% in women. This prevalence was over 5% in young men and increased at 40–44 years; it was negligible in young women, but increased at 50–54 years to about 10% (ie to the same level as in men of the same age): PP in subjects with ISH (46.9 mmHg) was significantly higher than in the normotensive group (NT—40.9 mmHg); it was comparable in both young men (65.5 mmHg) and older men (66 mmHg); it was higher in men (63.1 mmHg) than in women (61.5 mmHg). HR was higher in ISH than in NT and it was higher in women (≈5 bpm) in whom it decreased with age. The prevalence of ISH is not negligible in HT (30% men, 25% women), with a high prevalence in young subjects and elevated PP, MAP and HR values. These data should be taken into account as elevated ISH, PP and HR are considered as cardio-vascular risk factors.

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Acknowledgements

The Epidemiology Group of the Société Française d'Hypertension Artérielle: JM Mallion. P Ducimetières. PF Plouin, JP Cambou, G Chatellier, T Lang and R de Gaudemaris.

IHPAF Working physicians: Drs B Agopian, C Amoureux, L Arsac, C Barthelemy, N Begnard, MR Belville, M Bidault, C Boijoux, F Chamard, A Chamot, B Chanut, S Charriere, H Chebli, N Cholley, C Combre, M-C Combre, C Costa, C de Dreuzy, J Decatoire, B Defawe, M Dischant, D Duquesne, I Elter, E Filliard, I Fortier, C Gamot, J Grasset, A Guiret, H Hage, ML Hinard, A Hoorelbeke, A Lafragette, L Langlois, N Laplaiche, D Lariviere, F Marlin, C Michel-Panichi, ZH Nghiem, C Paquette, B Pasquet, S Picart, S Piotte, S Portal, A Poudevigne, H Ramambason, D Rodallec, A M Roux, J Royon, E Sailly, JJ Servagent, J Solanet, M Stern, R Wolff, MH Zerbib.

The following pharmaceutical companies have supported the activity of the group and this study: Astra, Aventis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Debat Cardio, Glaxo Welcome, Information Servier, Lipha Sante, Merck Sharp & Dohme Chibret, Wyeth Lederle and Zeneca. This study was undertaken under the auspices of the Société Française d'Hypertension Artérielle and its Epidemiology Group.

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Author notes

  1. R De Gaudemaris: Study team members listed in acknowledgements.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiologie et Hypertension Artérielle. CHU–BP 217X–38043, Grenoble, France

    J-M Mallion, L Hamici & R De Gaudemaris

  2. Départment de Santé Publique et d' Informatique Faculté de Médecine Broussais, Paris

    G Chatellier

  3. Department d' Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, INSERM U558, Faculté de médecine Toulouse, France

    T Lang

  4. Service d'hypertension. Hôpital Georges Pompidou, Paris, France

    P F Plouin

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  1. J-M Mallion
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  4. T Lang
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Correspondence to J-M Mallion.

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Mallion, JM., Hamici, L., Chatellier, G. et al. Isolated systolic hypertension: data on a cohort of young subjects from a French working population (IHPAF). J Hum Hypertens 17, 93–100 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001506

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