Public health impact of antihypertensive medication use on arterial blood pressure: A pooled cross-sectional analysis of population health surveys

The early initiation of antihypertensive drug therapy is conceived as one of the most important public health interventions addressing cardiovascular risk in the population. However, the actual contribution of this public health intervention to reduce blood pressure (BP) at the population level is largely unknown. Hence, the aim of the present investigation is to estimate the potential public health effects of the use of antihypertensive medication on BP in the population aged 16 and older. Data from three population health surveys periodically conducted in the United States, England, and Scotland are analysed (N = 362,275). The secular trends of BP measurements and the potential public health impact of the use of antihypertensive medications on BP over time are analysed in a series of linear mixed models. Between 1992 and 2019, a secular trend of decreasing systolic and diastolic BP occurred (-16.24 99% CI [-16.80; -15.68] and -3.08 99% CI [-3.36; -2.80] mmHg, respectively). The potential public health impact of the use of antihypertensive medications in the period 1992-2019 on systolic BP was estimated to lie between -8.56 99% CI [-8.34; -8.77] and -8.68 99% CI [-8.33; -9.03] mmHg. Average reduction of diastolic BP was in the range of -5.56 99% CI [-5.71; -5.42] and -6.55 99% CI [-6.78; -6.32] mmHg. The observed changes in the distribution of BP measurements over time were found to be more strongly related to secular trends affecting the whole populations, rather than to increases in the proportion of individuals taking antihypertensive medications.

Achievements of primary prevention targets in individuals with high risk of cardiovascular disease: an 8-year follow-up of the Tromsø study

Aims

To study change over 8 years in cardiovascular risk, achievement of national guideline-based treatment targets of lipids, blood pressure (BP) and smoking in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), medication use, and characteristics associated with target achievement among individuals with high CVD risk in a general population.

Methods and results

We followed 2524 women and men aged 40-79 years with high risk of CVD attending the population-based Tromsø study in 2007-08 (Tromsø6) to their participation in the next survey in 2015-16 (Tromsø7). We used descriptive statistics and regression models to study change in CVD risk and medication use, and characteristics associated with treatment target achievement. In total, 71.4% reported use of BP- and/or lipid-lowering medication at second screening. Overall, CVD risk decreased during follow-up, with a larger decrease among medication users compared with non-users. Treatment target achievement was 31.0% for total cholesterol <5 mmol/L, 27.3% for LDL cholesterol <3 mmol/L, 43.4% for BP <140/90 (<135/85 if diabetes) mmHg, and 85.4% for non-smoking. A total of 9.8% reached all treatment targets combined. Baseline risk factor levels and current medication use had the strongest associations with treatment target achievement.

Conclusion

We found an overall improvement in CVD risk factors among high-risk individuals over 8 years. However, guideline-based treatment target achievement was relatively low for all risk factors except smoking. Medication use was the strongest characteristic associated with achieving treatment targets. This study has demonstrated that primary prevention of CVD continues to remain a major challenge.

The seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø7) 2015-2016: study design, data collection, attendance, and prevalence of risk factors and disease in a multipurpose population-based health survey

Aims:

The Tromsø Study is an ongoing population-based health study in Tromsø, Norway, initiated in 1974. The purpose of the seventh survey (Tromsø7) 2015–2016 was to advance the population risk factor surveillance and to collect new types of data. We present the study design, data collection, attendance, and prevalence of risk factors and disease.

Methods:

All inhabitants in Tromsø municipality, Norway, aged 40 years and older (N=32,591) were invited to a health screening including extensive questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, biological sampling (blood, urine, saliva, nasal/throat swabs, faeces), measurements (anthropometry, blood pressure, pulse, pulse oximetry) and clinical examinations (pain sensitivity, echocardiography, cognitive, physical, and lung function, accelerometer measurements, eye examinations, carotid ultrasound, electrocardiography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and heart, lung and carotid auscultation). New research areas in this round were dental and oral health examinations, collection of faecal samples for studies of normal bacterial flora and antibiotic resistance, and 24-hour urine samples for examination of sodium and iodine intakes.

Results:

Attendance was 65% (N=21,083), and was higher in women, age group 50–79 years, previous attenders, and Norwegian-born individuals. Cardiovascular risk factor levels and prevalence of chronic obstructive lung disease decreased since the last survey, while the prevalence of obesity and diabetes increased.

Conclusions:

Attendance was stable from the sixth survey. Interaction with participants might be key to maintain participation. Favourable trends in risk factors continue, except for a continued increase in obesity. Both new data collection technology and traditional physical examinations will be crucial for the impact of future population studies.

Secular and longitudinal trends in body composition: The Tromsø Study, 2001 to 2016

OBJECTIVE

Overweight, defined as excessive fat mass, is a long-standing worldwide public health challenge. Traditional anthropometric measures used to identify overweight and obesity do not assess body composition. The aim of this study was to examine population trends in general and abdominal fat mass during the past two decades.

METHODS

This study included participants from one or more consecutive surveys of the population-based Tromsø Study, including Tromsø 5 (conducted in 2001, n = 1,662, age 40-84 years), Tromsø 6 (2007-2008, n = 901, age 40-88 years), and Tromsø 7 (2015-2016, n = 3,670, age 40-87 years), with total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans. Trends in total fat and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were analyzed by generalized estimation equation models in strata of sex and age groups.

RESULTS

Total fat and VAT mass increased during 2001 to 2016, with a larger increase during 2007 to 2016 than from 2001 to 2007 and among the youngest age group (40-49 years), particularly in women. Women had higher total fat mass than men, whereas men had higher VAT mass than women.

CONCLUSIONS

General and abdominal dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-derived fat mass increased during the past two decades in this general population. Of particular concern is the more pronounced increase in the past decade and in the younger age groups.

Change in cardiovascular risk assessment tool and updated Norwegian guidelines for cardiovascular disease in primary prevention increase the population proportion at risk: the Tromsø Study 2015-2016

Aims

To compare the population proportion at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) using the Norwegian NORRISK 1 that predicts 10-year risk of CVD mortality and the Norwegian national guidelines from 2009, with the updated NORRISK 2 that predicts 10-year risk of both fatal and non-fatal risk of CVD and the Norwegian national guidelines from 2017.

Methods

We included participants from the Norwegian population-based Tromsø Study (2015–2016) aged 40–69 years without a history of CVD (n=16 566). The total proportion eligible for intervention was identified by NORRISK 1 and the 2009 guidelines (serum total cholesterol ≥8 mmol/L, systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mm Hg) and NORRISK 2 and the 2017 guidelines (serum total cholesterol ≥7 mmol/L, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ≥5 mmol/L, systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mm Hg).

Results

The total proportion at high risk as defined by a risk score was 12.0% using NORRISK 1 and 9.8% using NORRISK 2. When including single risk factors specified by the guidelines, the total proportion eligible for intervention was 15.5% using NORRISK 1 and the 2009 guidelines and 18.9% using NORRISK 2 and the 2017 guidelines. The lowered threshold for total cholesterol and specified cut-off for LDL cholesterol stand for a large proportion of the increase in population at risk.

Conclusion

The population proportion eligible for intervention increased by 3.4 percentage points from 2009 to 2017 using the revised NORRISK 2 score and guidelines.

Treatment target achievement after myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke: cardiovascular risk factors, medication use, and lifestyle: the Tromsø Study 2015-16

AIMS

To investigate European guideline treatment target achievement in cardiovascular risk factors, medication use, and lifestyle, after myocardial infarction (MI) or ischaemic stroke, in women and men living in Norway.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the population-based Tromsø Study 2015-16 (attendance 65%), 904 participants had previous validated MI and/or stroke. Cross-sectionally, we investigated target achievement for blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg, <130/80 mmHg if diabetes), LDL cholesterol (<1.8 mmol/L), HbA1c (<7.0% if diabetes), overweight (body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, waist circumference women <80 cm, men <94 cm), smoking (non-smoking), physical activity (self-reported >sedentary, accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous ≥150 min/week), diet (intake of fruits ≥200 g/day, vegetables ≥200 g/day, fish ≥200 g/week, saturated fat <10E%, fibre ≥30 g/day, alcohol women ≤10 g/day, men ≤20 g/day), and medication use (antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs, antithrombotics, and antidiabetics), using regression models. Proportion of target achievement was for blood pressure 55.2%, LDL cholesterol 9.0%, HbA1c 42.5%, BMI 21.1%, waist circumference 15.7%, non-smoking 86.7%, self-reported physical activity 79%, objectively measured physical activity 11.8%, intake of fruit 64.4%, vegetables 40.7%, fish 96.7%, saturated fat 24.3%, fibre 29.9%, and alcohol 78.5%, use of antidiabetics 83.6%, lipid-lowering drugs 81.0%, antihypertensives 75.9%, and antithrombotics 74.6%. Only 0.7% achieved all cardiovascular risk factor targets combined. Largely, there was little difference between the sexes, and in characteristics, medication use, and lifestyle among target achievers compared to non-achievers.

CONCLUSION 

Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease was suboptimal. A negligible proportion achieved the treatment target for all risk factors. Improvement in follow-up care and treatment after MI and stroke is needed.