Sex-specific associations between blood pressure in early midlife and arterial stiffness 27 years later: the Hordaland Health Study

Little is known about sex-specific associations between elevated blood pressure (BP) in early midlife and presence of increased arterial stiffness later in life.

BP was measured in 1127 women and 938 men, mean age 42 years (baseline), and categorized as non-elevated BP (<120/70 mmHg), elevated BP (120–139/70–89 mmHg) and hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg). Increased arterial stiffness was identified as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) > 10 m/s. Associations between BP at baseline with increased arterial stiffness 27 years later were assessed in logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline body mass index, diabetes, smoking, heart rate, lipids, age and education, and reported as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). At baseline, 62% of women and 67% of men had elevated BP and 9% of women vs. 26% of men had hypertension (P < 0.001). At follow-up, 17% of women and 31% of men had increased arterial stiffness (P < 0.001). In adjusted analysis, having elevated BP or hypertension at baseline as compared with non-elevated BP were both associated with increased arterial stiffness 27 years later in women (OR 2.78 [95% CI 1.74–4.42] and OR 4.62 [95% CI 2.48–8.58]), but not in men (OR 1.10 [95% CI 0.58–2.10] and OR 1.33 [95% CI 0.67–2.66]), and P for sex-interaction 0.01.

In the Hordaland health study, having elevated BP or hypertension in early midlife were associated with increased arterial stiffness 27 years later in women, but not in men. These findings underscore the importance of managing BP in early midlife for optimal CVD prevention in women.