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The J-Point Phenomenon in Aggressive Therapy of Hypertension: New Insights

  • Coronary Heart Disease (J Farmer, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

In the era of aggressive control of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, the mantra of “lower is better” has taken a strong foothold. Although there is clear epidemiologic evidence that lower blood pressure improves specific organ-related outcomes, this rule does not apply to all patients and definitely not all target organs. The concept of J-curve or adverse outcomes at lower blood pressure has been proposed for more than three decades but has recently come under increasing scrutiny. Specifically, a relationship between adverse cardiovascular outcomes and low diastolic blood pressure has been observed in multiple clinical trials. In this article we review the advances in understanding of the J-curve phenomenon and include a discussion on specific populations that might be at higher risk due to the J-curve relationship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Carnegie 568, (Cardiology), 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Gurusher S. Panjrath

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, RMB- 512, 5601 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21239, USA

    Sameer Chaudhari

  3. Division of Cardiology, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1000 10th Avenue, Suite 3B.30, New York, NY, 10019, USA

    Franz H. Messerli

Authors
  1. Gurusher S. Panjrath
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  2. Sameer Chaudhari
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  3. Franz H. Messerli
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Correspondence to Franz H. Messerli.

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Panjrath, G.S., Chaudhari, S. & Messerli, F.H. The J-Point Phenomenon in Aggressive Therapy of Hypertension: New Insights. Curr Atheroscler Rep 14, 124–129 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-012-0233-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-012-0233-4

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