Table 1 Mean characteristics of the MESA participants stratified by hypertension status

Age (years)

72 ± 8.5

69 ± 8.6

< 0.001

Race (% of white/black)

51/49

77/23

< 0.001

Body mass index (kg/m2)

29.3 ± 5.3

27.7 ± 5.1

0.002

Men (%)

38

49

0.03

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

131 ± 22

114 ± 13

< 0.001

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

69 ± 11

66 ± 10

0.012

Metabolic Syndrome, (%)*

45

17

< 0.001

LV End diastolic volume (ml)

120 ± 32

120 ± 29

0.99

LV End systolic volume (ml)

46 ± 20

48 ± 15

0.34

LV End diastolic mass (g)

129 ± 37

119 ± 32

0.006

LV Stroke volume (ml)

74 ± 18

72 ± 18

0.36

LV Ejection Fraction (%)

62 ± 7.6

61 ± 6.5

0.007

Aortic wall thickness (mm)

2.68 ± 0.27

2.66 ± 0.26

0.35

Distensibility of ascending aorta (%/mmhg)

0.18 ± 0.11

0.25 ± 0.18

< 0.001

Pulse wave velocity (m/s)

9.5 ± 4.4

8.5 ± 2.8

0.012