It’s imperative to reduce the two causes.
Recent research in the journal PLOS ONE highlights how individuals facing high blood pressure or high cholesterol before turning 55 confront an escalated risk of heart disease, even if they later manage to improve these conditions.
This study, utilizing data from the UK Biobank and assessing three groups—those with high cholesterol, elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diagnosed coronary heart disease—uncovered that genetically predictable high levels of LDL-C and SBP correlated with a heightened risk of coronary heart disease, regardless of the age when these conditions appeared.
Furthermore, the findings emphasized that individuals grappling with elevated SBP and LDL-C during their early to midlife encountered an increased risk of heart disease, irrespective of their levels in later years. This underscores the prolonged impact of these risk factors on overall heart disease risk.
The study stressed the cumulative effect of risk factors like SBP and LDL-C on heart disease, emphasizing their enduring implications on an individual’s risk profile. However, it also observed a decline in the impact of SBP on heart disease as individuals aged, potentially due to reduced genetic influences on various diseases later in life.
Regarding treatment implications, the researchers advocated for not withholding appropriate management of LDL-C and blood pressure treatments based on age alone. This aligns with previous studies supporting the use of medications like statins, even in older age groups, despite a decline in their usage as individuals grow older.
Medical experts not involved in the study supported these findings, emphasizing the importance of continuous management of high cholesterol and blood pressure throughout a person’s lifespan. They highlighted the significance of understanding these connections across different age brackets.
Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist, praised the study’s contribution to comprehending these relationships across various ages. Dr. Yu-Ming Ni, a cardiologist, hinted at the possibility of a more proactive approach to managing cholesterol in younger individuals to mitigate risks at an earlier stage in life.
The study’s robustness lies in its substantial data from the UK Biobank. However, the researchers acknowledged limitations in assessing medication usage across different age groups, emphasizing the necessity to consider treatment variations when analyzing SBP and LDL-C data.
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