Coronary Artery Calcification Is Associated With the Development of Hypertension

BACKGROUND Hypertension (HTN) is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC). We hypothesized that preexisting CAC is associated with the development of HTN. METHODS This study included 483 normotensive subjects (mean age 54 years, 83% males) who underwent a baseline evaluation of their CAC score with ungated dual-section computed tomography during 2001-2002 and returned for at least the first annual follow-up. All subjects underwent an annual examination and were followed for a mean period of 6.6 +/- 3.2 years to identify newly developed HTN. Data on the patient's medical history, physical examination and laboratory evaluations were collected. RESULTS During the follow-up, 104 subjects developed HTN. The rate of newly developed HTN was significantly higher among those with CAC (60 of 223 subjects; 27%) than among those without CAC (44 of 260; 17%) (P < 0.01). The presence of CAC predicted the development of HTN with a hazard ratio of 1.73 (95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.56; P < 0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, baseline systolic blood pressure, and levels of glucose, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the presence of CAC still predicted the development of HTN with a hazard ratio of 1.63 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.60; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Preexisting CAC is associated with the development of HTN.