Coronary morbidity and mortality, pre-existing silent coronary artery disease, and mild hypertension

Article Abstract:

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, the narrowing of blood vessels supplying the brain, heart and other tissues. Lowering blood pressure with antihypertensive medication has been shown to reduce some of the consequences of high blood pressure, such as stroke and kidney insufficiency. However, the use of blood pressure lowering drugs has not reduced the overall incidence of cardiac events. A review of antihypertensive drug trials was conducted to determine the relationship between hypertension, atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia (reduced blood supply to the heart muscle). Many of the studies reviewed failed to demonstrate the positive effects of antihypertensive therapy because the study size, the criteria used for patients to enter the study or the length of the study was inadequate. The inclusion of individuals at low risk with suspected coronary artery disease can contribute to the failure of treatment trials to demonstrate a reduction in coronary heart disease. Patients with silent (painless) coronary artery blockages at the onset of the study will develop the disease regardless of efforts to reduce high blood pressure. Since these are the patients more likely to have future cardiac events, inclusion of these patients in short-term drug trials does not lead to an accurate assessment of the beneficial effects of antihypertensive therapy. Therefore, additional long-term drug trials with predetermined disease status are warranted to determine the impact of antihypertensives on coronary heart disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Drug therapy, Antihypertensive drugs, Antihypertensive agents, Mild hypertension, Silent myocardial ischemia

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Deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene is associated with increased plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity but not with increased risk for myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease

Article Abstract:

Variation in the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene does not appear to affect the risk for heart disease or heart attack. The ACE gene codes for a substance that constricts blood vessels. Researchers determined the genetic type of the ACE gene and blood levels of ACE in 209 men with coronary artery disease and 92 men free of coronary artery disease. ACE activity was correlated with the genetic type of ACE gene, but no association was found with the presence of coronary artery disease or having experienced a heart attack.

Genetic aspects, Heart attack, Angiotensin converting enzyme

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Risk factors for coronary heart disease in young men

Article Abstract:

Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and obesity are risk factors for coronary heart disease in young men as well as in middle-aged men. This was the conclusion of a study that followed 11,016 young men and 8,955 middle-aged men for 20 years.

Health aspects, Young men

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