Baseline characteristics of the study population overall and by pulse pressure stress index
| Overall 0.90 to 4.09 (n=55 524) | Q1 P2SI: 0.90 to 1.59 (n=13 677) | Q2 P2SI: 1.60 to 1.95 (n=14 050) | Q3 P2SI: 1.96 to 2.37 (n=13 802) | Q4 P2SI: 2.38 to 4.09 (n=13 995) | P values | |
| Clinical variables | ||||||
| Age (years) | 53 (12) | 58 (13) | 54 (12) | 51 (11) | 50 (11) | <0.001 |
| Men (%) | 28 434 (51) | 5724 (42) | 6808 (48) | 7372 (53) | 8530 (61) | <0.001 |
| Race (%) | ||||||
| Whites | 35 596 (63) | 8989 (66) | 9142 (65) | 8818 (64) | 8647 (62) | <0.001 |
| Blacks | 15 933 (29) | 3787 (28) | 3864 (28) | 3933 (29) | 4349 (31) | |
| History of smoking (%) | 22 993 (41) | 5433 (40) | 5855 (42) | 5740 (42) | 5965 (43) | <0.001 |
| Hypertension (%) | 33 836 (61) | 9774 (71) | 8664 (62) | 7931 (57) | 7467 (53) | <0.001 |
| Hyperlipidemia (%) | 23 917 (43) | 6184 (45) | 6152 (44) | 5851 (42) | 5730 (41) | <0.001 |
| Antihypertensive medication use (%) | 23 478 (42) | 7500 (55) | 6077 (43) | 5211 (38) | 4690 (34) | <0.001 |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 9930 (18) | 2880 (21) | 2511 (18) | 2355 (17) | 2184 (16) | <0.001 |
| Obesity (%) | 12 975 (25) | 2784 (22) | 3278 (25) | 3464 (27) | 3449 (27) | <0.001 |
| Statin use (%) | 10 095 (18) | 2916 (21) | 2703 (19) | 2308 (17) | 2168 (15) | <0.001 |
| Aspirin use (%) | 9453 (17) | 2784 (20) | 2468 (18) | 2089 (15) | 2112 (15) | <0.001 |
| Stress test variables* | ||||||
| METs achieved | 10 (10–7) | 7 (5–10) | 10 (7–10) | 10 (7–13) | 10 (7–13) | <0.001 |
| Resting HR (bpm) | 72 (64–81) | 72 (64–82) | 73 (65–82) | 72 (65–81) | 71 (64–80) | <0.001 |
| Peak HR (bpm) | 154 (140–165) | 144 (128–158) | 153 (140–164) | 156 (145–167) | 159 (149–169) | <0.001 |
| Resting SBP (mm Hg) | 130 (120–142) | 142 (130–158) | 132 (122–144) | 128 (118–138) | 120 (110–130) | <0.001 |
| Peak SBP (mm Hg) | 180 (160–198) | 168 (150–184) | 178 (160–194) | 180 (166–200) | 190 (172–208) | <0.001 |
| Resting DBP (mm Hg) | 82 (76–90) | 84 (80–92) | 84 (78–90) | 82 (74–90) | 80 (70–90) | <0.001 |
| Resting PP (mm Hg) | 48 (40–60) | 60 (50–70) | 52 (44–60) | 46 (40–52) | 38 (32–42) | <0.001 |
| Unadjusted incidence rates during follow-up | ||||||
| Heart failure, n (IR) | 2406 (7.1) | 1035 (13.3) | 617 (7.3) | 416 (4.8) | 338 (3.7) | <0.001 |
| Myocardial infarction, n (IR) | 1567 (4.6) | 602 (7.7) | 400 (4.7) | 298 (3.5) | 267 (2.9) | <0.001 |
| Deaths, n (IR) | 5990 (9.8) | 2637 (18.7) | 1431 (9.4) | 1060 (6.9) | 862 (5.3) | <0.001 |
Participants with P2SI below 1st percentile or above 99th percentile or prior history of coronary artery disease, heart failure or atrial fibrillation were excluded.
*Stress test variables were expressed as median (IQR).
DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HR, heart rate; IR, incidence rates (calculated per 1000 person-years); METs, metabolic equivalents; n, number; P2SI, pulse pressure stress index; PP, pulse pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure.