Lifetime Exposure to High Systolic BP Associated With Heart Valve Disease

Elevated systolic blood pressure with 20-mmHg increments is linked to major valvular heart disease, reveals a new study.

Valvular heart disease presents as aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and mitral regurgitation. The only effective treatment available was valve repair or replacement with high health care costs. Therefore there is a need to explore modifiable risks that can develop prevention and treatment strategies.

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‘Elevated systolic blood pressure is associated with the incidence of valvular heart disease. Elevated systolic blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor and hence valvular heart disease can be prevented.’
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This study confirms the fact that lifetime exposure to elevated systolic blood pressure with 20mm hg increments increases the chances of major valvular heart disease.

Previous cross-sectional studies showed a link between systolic BP and risk of aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation. After this confirmation, large-scale cohort studies showed an association between BP and increased risk for aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and mitral regurgitation.

Patients with heart valve disease show symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue, fainting, and dizziness. The earlier the treatment for high blood pressure, the lesser the time these individuals are exposed to the condition.

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In this study, Mendelian randomization estimates for the associations between systolic BP and VHD. Mendelian randomization uses the naturally occurring randomized exposure to genetic variants which are linked to lifetime systolic blood pressure. Such randomization overcomes the problems of reverse causation and confounding typical of nonrandomized studies.

It was concluded in the study that lifetime exposure to elevated systolic blood pressure may be associated with high risks of major valvular heart disease. Since a Mendelian randomization study was used there were less chances of confounding and reverse causation. Thus it can be suggested that BP-lowering treatment prevents valvular heart disease.

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Source-Medindia

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