Atherogenic vascular stiffness and hypertension: Cause or effect?

摘要

Hypertension is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, blindness, and chronic kidney disease leading to end-stage renal disease. Epidemiological data have also demonstrated a strong relationship between blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.1 The importance of blood pressure as a risk factor has been further emphasized by a World Health Organization report that identified hypertension as one of the most important preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality in developed and developing countries.