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If one person in a relationship suffers from high blood pressure, this is often the case with their partner as well. It might make sense to examine the other person in the relationship after a high blood pressure diagnosis and, if necessary, treat both of them together.
A new study involving experts from Columbia University examined middle-aged and older heterosexual couples to see how common it is for both people to have high blood pressure (hypertension). The results are published in the “Journal of the American Heart Association” (JAHA).
Disease risk in partnerships examined
In the past, there have been studies that have analyzed a possible connection between high blood pressure and other diseases in couples in small regional samples and at the level of individual states.
The current research looked at heterosexual couples in the USA, England, China and India to find out whether both people in a relationship have similar blood status.
Blood pressure analyzed in over 30,000 couples
“Our study is the first to examine the connection between high blood pressure and other diseases in couples from high- and middle-income countries,” explains study author Dr. Jithin Sam Varghese in a press release.
For the study, the team analyzed the blood pressure values of 3,989 couples from the USA, 1,086 couples from England, 6,514 couples from China and an additional 22,389 couples from India.
Both often suffered from high blood pressure
It was found that the prevalence of high blood pressure in both people living in a relationship was 47 percent in England, 38 percent in the USA, 21 percent in China and 20 percent in India, the experts report.
“Many people know that high blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older adults, but we were surprised to find that in many older couples, both the man and the woman in the United States, England, China and India had high blood pressure,” emphasizes study author Dr . Chihua Li.
The results make it clear that the likelihood of suffering from high blood pressure increases if your partner is also affected by high blood pressure, according to the team.
Adjust treatment for high blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and can, for example, promote heart attacks and strokes.
Currently, the focus on treating high blood pressure is on an individual level, but measures to treat high blood pressure that target both people in a relationship could be particularly effective, the experts explain.
Dr. Li added. (as)