What is the J-curve phenomenon?
We have a lot of evidence that people with high blood pressure and/or high blood cholesterol levels have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The higher the blood pressure and/or cholesterol level, the greater the risk. We also know that lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels lowers the risk for CVD. When the blood pressure or blood cholesterol levels of large groups of people are plotted on a graph against CVD mortality, it often results in a J-shaped curve. This curve shows that those with higher blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels, closer to the top of the curve, are more likely to die from CVD. The curve also shows that those at the lowest end of the curve (with very low blood pressure and/or low cholesterol levels) also have higher CVD mortality. This accounts for the J shape and is known as the J-curve phenomenon. Most evidence, however, indicates that the group at the bottom-left part of the curve (with very low blood pressure and low choleste
