Percentile distribution of blood pressure readings in 35683 men and women aged 18 to 99 years

The percentile distribution of blood pressure (BP) with regard to age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors is unknown. We aimed to provide epidemiological data for a comprehensive

description of the BP distribution across a wide age-range. We used data from the German Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Project (GEMCAS), a cross-sectional study with 35 683 participants

aged 18–99 years, conducted during October 2005 in 1511 randomly selected general practices in Germany. BP and waist circumference were measured, data on lifestyle, cardiovascular disease

(CVD) risk factors and medication assessed. In men, we found even in the lowest percentile (5th) a gradual increase of the systolic BP from the lowest to the highest age group of 10 mm Hg,

all other percentile groups an increase of 20 mm Hg. In women, this increase ranged from 15 mm Hg (5th percentile) to 40 mm Hg (95th percentile). In a subgroup of participants with no

antihypertensive usage (n=22 550) and no CVD/CVD risk factors (n=13 297), we still observed a distinct age-related increase of BP readings. Our study provides detailed information on the

population distribution of BP readings in both sexes and also among very old individuals. The results are useful in a public health context to plan gender- and age-specific prevention

strategies.

We would like to thank the physicians and their personnel involved in the study for their contribution. We are similarly indebted to all the study participants for their kind cooperation in

examinations and interviews. The study was funded by an unrestricted educational research grant by Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Berlin, Germany.

Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Providence Health Care Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Institut für Pharmakologie und präventive Medizin, Mahlow, Germany

Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: