As Supine Blood Pressure Rises, so Does Cardiovascular Risk
Measuring blood pressure while you’re on your back, or supine, may help to fine-tune cardiovascular risk assessment. In a recent study of 11,369 people who had their blood pressure measured while they were seated and supine, researchers found that 16.4% of the individuals without hypertension while seated had hypertension (blood pressure of 130/80 millimeters of mercury or greater) while lying on their back, while about 74% with seated hypertension also had supine hypertension. During a median follow-up period of about 27 years, the participants with supine hypertension had increased risks of heart failure, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and death from CHD and all causes. Moreover, individuals with supine hypertension alone had similar increased risks as the participants with hypertension in both positions and higher risks than those with seated hypertension alone, except for fatal CHD, the study found (JAMA Cardiology, online Jan. 22, 2025).
