One's blood pressure is considered "normal" at 120/80, and it's considered high if it consistently measures 140/90. In between is a gray area called "high normal" which is not usually treated. Using data from the long-term Framingham study, researchers have now concluded that people with high-normal BP are also at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

They examined the association between BP measurements at baseline - over 50 years ago - and the incidence of cardiovascular disease on follow-up among 6,859 people who did not have hypertension or cardiovascular disease. They found an increase in cardiovascular events in those people with high-normal BP at baseline. Further, the incidence increased with age:

Age at follow-up	Incidence of CV disease
	Men	Women
35-64	8%	4%
65-90	25%	18%

The researchers commented that their findings show a need to determine whether lowering high-normal blood pressure can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. About 13% of the U.S. population has high-normal BP.

Related information: Treatment | Risk factors

Source:  Vasan RS, Larson MG, Leip EP, et al. Impact of high-normal blood pressure on the risk of cardiovascular disease. New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 1, 2001;345(18):1291-1297. (Abs.)