The Tromsø Heart Study: Coronary Risk Factor Levels in Treated and Untreated Hypertensives

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Abstract
Coronary risk factors are described in 288 medically treated hypertensives, 1293 untreated hypertensives and 15029 normotensives. Cholesterol in untreated men and women was 0.37 mmol/l and 0.35 mmol/l higher than in normotensives (p < 0.001). Non-significant differences were observed between those untreated and treated. Treated men and women had 0.16 mmol/l and 0.14 mmol/l lower HDL cholesterol than untreated (p < 0.01). Between untreated and normotensives non-significant differences were found. Triglycerides were 0.27 mmol/l and 0.22 mmol/l higher in treated than in untreated men and women (p < 0.01). Normotensive men and women had 0.33 mmol/l and 0.10 mmol/l lower triglycerides than untreated (p < 0.01). The results suggest that the increased cholesterol in hypertensives was present originally, while the decreased HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides probably were evoked by drugs. The importance of consideration of the whole constellation of risk factors in order to reduce the mortality from coronary heart disease by antihypertensive drug treatment is emphasized.