Figure 2:

Cardiovascular disease incidence rates by blood pressure status

● Maintained normal BP

■ Normal BP at baseline, did not maintain over follow-up

▲ Elevated BP or hypertension at baseline

BP, blood pressure; CI, confidence interval; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CHD, coronary heart disease

*Incidence rate per 1,000 person-years; Follow-up for CVD events began upon completion of JHS visit 3. Median follow-up in years (25^th – 75^th percentiles) = 5.9 (5.1–6.8)

^†CVD incidence rate is higher than the rate among the maintaining normal BP category at p < 0.05.

P-values comparing those with normal blood pressure at baseline that did not maintain normal blood pressure over follow-up versus those who maintained normal blood pressure were p=0.469 for cardiovascular disease, p=0.511 for coronary heart disease, p=0.507 for stroke, p=0.927 for heart failure and p=0.509 for all-cause mortality.

P-values comparing those with elevated blood pressure or hypertension at baseline versus those who maintained normal blood pressure were p=0.002 for cardiovascular disease, p=0.053 for coronary heart disease, p=0.076 for stroke, p=0.032 for heart failure and p=0.003 for all-cause mortality.

P-values comparing those with normal blood pressure at baseline that did not maintain normal blood pressure over follow-up versus those with elevated blood pressure or hypertension at baseline were p<0.001 for cardiovascular disease, p=0.019 for coronary heart disease, p=0.043 for stroke, p=0.003 for heart failure and p<0.001 for all-cause mortality.