Association between cumulative blood pressure in early adulthood and right ventricular structure and function in middle age: The CARDIA study

OBJECTIVE: Cumulative blood pressure (BP) exposure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study sought to investigate the association between cumulative BP from early adulthood to middle age and right ventricular (RV) structure and function in middle age. METHODS: We included 2844 participants from the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults). Cumulative BP over the 30‐years follow‐up was defined as the sum of the product of mean BP for each pair of consecutive examinations and the time interval between these two consecutive examinations in years. RV structure and function were assessed by echocardiography. The main analyses utilized logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, higher cumulative systolic BP was independently associated with lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular peak systolic velocity (RVS′), right ventricular early diastolic velocity (RVe′), and higher pulmonary arterial systolic pressure. Higher cumulative diastolic BP was independently associated with smaller RV basal diameter, lower TAPSE, RVS′, and RVe′. For categorical analyses of RV dysfunction, cumulative systolic BP was not related to systolic dysfunction. Per 1‐SD increase in cumulative systolic BP was associated with a higher risk of diastolic dysfunction, while an increase in cumulative diastolic BP was associated with a higher risk of systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative exposure to increased BP from early adulthood to middle age was associated with incipient RV systolic and diastolic dysfunction in middle age. Exposure to higher diastolic BP levels from early adulthood to middle age was associated with a smaller RV basal diameter in middle age.