The relationships between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and select demographic, dietary, life-style, and anthropometric variables were examined for a specialized sample of 10,419 adults, 18 years and over, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) I conducted in 1971-1974. The bivariate relationships of blood pressure to each of the measurements above were examined using zero-order correlation coefficients, and Step-wise linear regression. Age and body mass index (BMI) played a major role in accounting for most of the variance in blood pressure. These two indices alone accounted for 94.5% and 89.0% of the variance in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In contrast, only 5.5% and 11.0% of the changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were explained by all other variables combined. Diet explained less than 1 % of the total variance observed for blood pressure for whites, and less than 5% for nonwhites. Select dietary variables such as sodium/potassium ratio, calories from fat, and % saturated fat were not significantly (p < 0.001) correlated to blood pressure. On the other hand, food calcium, sodium/calcium ratio, food vitamin C, and calcium/phosphorus ratio were significantly correlated to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. (Hypertension 4 (supp III): III-135-III-142, 1982) KEY WORDS • diet • anthropometry • life style • demography • blood pressureB LOOD pressure is an important risk factor in cardiovascular mortality. 1 One in five persons (20.6%) in the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the U.S., 17 years of age and over, has been diagnosed as having hypertension. 2 Elevated blood pressure is linked to several factors including genetics, family history, obesity, and dietary intake. This study examines the relationship of blood pressure to demographic, dietary, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors in a select sample of the U.S. population. A brief review of each variable is provided.

Background: Comorbid aortic stenosis (AS) has been considered a precaution when applying enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) to individuals with angina due to concerns about treatment-related hemodynamic changes. Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to determine whether EECP safely reduces symptoms of myocardial ischemia and improves hemodynamics in individuals with AS. Methods: Forty-three patients with AS (average age, 73 years; 86% male) and 43 comparison patients without AS were chosen from a database of 1327 EECP patients. Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Functional Angina Classification, diastolic augmentation ratio, and blood pressure were measured at baseline and on completion of the course of EECP. Results: Thirty-five of the 43 patients with AS (81%, 95% CI: 66.6% to 91.6%) and 38 of the 43 without AS (88%, 95% CI: 74.9% to 96.1%) improved in angina class (P < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference between the percentages in patients with and without AS (P = 0.54). CCS angina class outcome was not associated with AS severity (P = 0.55). The percentage of patients with diastolic augmentation ratio ≥1.0 was 16.3% in both groups at baseline and improved to 39.5% in AS patients and 37.2% in non-AS patients after EECP (both P = 0.002). The average decreases in systolic blood pressure in subjects with AS (−15 mm Hg, 95% CI: 11 to 20, P < 0.0001) and without AS (−18 mm Hg, 95% CI: 14 to 22, P < 0.0001) were similar (P = 0.31). No major adverse cardiac events were reported. Conclusions: Angina patients with AS who undergo EECP had clinically important symptomatic and hemodynamic improvements comparable to their non-AS counterparts.

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