Control of blood pressure levels in patients with premature coronary artery disease: Results from the Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease study

High blood pressure (BP) is the major cardiovascular-risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), principally in young patients who have an important and increasing socioeconomic burden. Despite the Seventh Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7), recommended BP target <140/90 mm Hg for patients with stable CAD, in 2017 the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) updated BP target to <130/80 mm Hg. We aimed to analyze the prevalence of BP control in patients with premature CAD using both criteria. In addition, antihypertensive therapy, lifestyle, clinical, and sociodemographic characteristics of the patients were evaluated in order to identify factors associated with the achievement of BP targets. The present study included 1206 patients with CAD diagnosed before 55 and 65 years old in men and women, respectively. Sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical data were collected. The results indicate that 85.6% and 77.5% of subjects with premature CAD achieved JNC-7 non-strict and ACC/AHA strict BP target, respectively. Consistently, number of antihypertensive drugs and hypertension duration >10 years were inversely associated with BP targets, whereas total physical activity and smoking were directly associated with BP targets, regardless of BP criteria. Considering that age, gender, and hypertension duration are non-modifiable cardiovascular-risk factors, our results highlight the need for more effective strategies focused on increase physical activity and smoking cessation in young patients with CAD. These healthier lifestyles changes should favor the BP target achievement and reduce the socioeconomic and clinical burden of premature CAD.