Relation between Change of Blood Pressure and Age

Abstract

Data obtained from the longitudinal surveys of arterial blood pressure in two general population samples have been used to examine the relation between change of blood pressure, the mean pressure attained, and age. It has been shown, by multiple regression analysis of change of pressure on mean pressure and age, that in these populations changes in pressure during intervals of 10 and 8½ years are highly significantly related to mean pressures, but only indirectly related to age. This implies that ageing plays no direct part in determining the rate of change of pressure; age appears to play a part solely because the blood-pressure changes are positive and increase with higher pressures. If change of pressure is determined by attained pressure, this would explain the observation that some individuals and some races show no apparent increase of pressure with age, and would partially reconcile the conflicting views on the nature of unexplained hypertension. However, the evidence has shown only association, not causality. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.