Does Hypertension Predispose to Coronary Disease?: Conflicting Epidemiological and Experimental Evidence

Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of coronary events. Treatment of hypertension in controlled trials has not reduced the incidence of coronary events, although the risk of stroke is reduced. In untreated hypertension, about one-half the deaths were due to hypertensive heart failure, whereas myocardial infarction caused 10%-12% of deaths. In treated hypertension, coronary events cause about 40% of deaths. Although in autopsy serious coronary atherosclerosis is commonly found in hypertension, in severe hypertension, dilated coronary vessels free of atheroma were a common finding. No correlation was noted between the height of blood pressure and degree of coronary atherosclerosis. The relationship between coronary disease and hypertension is consistent with an association between them rather than hypertension being a causal factor. The factors that cause acute myocardial infarction may differ from those which predispose to coronary atherosclerosis.