Hypertension While Lying Down Tied to Worse Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Having hypertension while in a supine position is associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD-related events, and death, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Hypertension 2023 Scientific Sessions, held from Sept. 7 to 10 in Boston.

Duc M. Giao, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues examined whether hypertension while supine in clinic is a risk factor for CVD independent of seated blood pressure. The analysis included 11,369 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (1987 to 1989) followed for a median of 25 to 28 years.

The researchers found that when adjusting for seated hypertension, supine hypertension was associated with incident coronary heart disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.60), heart failure (HR, 1.83), stroke (HR, 1.86), fatal coronary heart disease (HR, 2.18), and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.43). Results persisted regardless of hypertension medication use. Risk for participants with supine hypertension alone was similar to hypertension in both positions.

"Our findings suggest people with known risk factors for heart disease and stroke may benefit from having their blood pressure checked while lying flat on their backs," Giao said in a statement. "Efforts to manage blood pressure during daily life may help lower blood pressure while sleeping. Future research should compare supine blood pressure measurements in the clinic with overnight measurements."

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