1.6 Brisighella Heart Study (BHS): Hypertension and Lipidic Parameters

Aim. To evaluate the existence of modifications in the lipidic profile in relation to blood pressure (BP) variations in a rural population studied for 4 years.

Methods. Brisighella Heart Study, promoted by Prof. Giancarlo Descovich in1972, is an observational longitudinal study with a 4-year follow -up aimed at evaluating the spontaneous variations of major cardiovascular risk factors in a population living in Emilia - Romagna. We analyzed the data of 709 males and 729 females controlled in 1992 and 1996, divided by BP levels. In 1992 we only separated non-hypertensive (‘92 NH) from hypertensive or in treatment subjects (‘92 H), in 1996 we analyzed three groups of people: non-hypertensive (‘96 NH), hypertensive (‘96 H) and new diagnosed hypertensive subjects (‘96 NDH).

Results. In males, total cholesterolaemia (TC) was higher in’ 96 H than in’ 92 NH (p=0.03); we observed no significant differences between ‘96 NDH and’ 92 H and NH. As for women,’ 96 H had higher TC levels than’ 92 NH (p<0.001) and ‘96 NDH (p=0.02 5). Moreover, CT levels were higher in’ 96 NDH than in’ 92 NH (p<0.001). A similar trend could be observed for triglycerides (TG). In males we documented only a significant difference between’ 96 H and’ 92 NH (p<0.001); in females we found significant differences in e ach class (’96 H vs’ 96 NDH - p<0.001;’ 96 H vs’ 96 NH - p<0.001;’ 96 NDH vs’ 96 NH - p=0.034). Relating to HDL cholesterol levels, no differences were found in all subgroups.

Conclusions. Our data suggest the existence, in females, of a possible correlation between BP levels and variations in the lipidic profile. This correlation seems to be less relevant in males.