Clinical Hypertension最新文献

Background: This study explores the impact of intensive blood pressure (BP) control on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) incidence and evaluates the prognostic implications of LVH status (pre-existing/new-onset/persistent/regression) using Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) Electrocardiogram Data.

Methods: Poisson regression was used to assess new-onset LVH and LVH regression rates. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models determined the risk of adverse cardiovascular events (ACE), a composite of myocardial infarction (MI), non-MI acute coronary syndrome, stroke, heart failure, or cardiovascular death, alongside safety adverse events.

Results: In 8,016 participants, intensive BP control significantly reduced new-onset LVH (8.27 vs. 14.79 per 1000-person years; adjusted p<0.001) and increased LVH regression (14.89 vs. 11.89 per 1000-person years; adjusted p<0.001). Elevated ACE risk was notable in participants with pre-existing LVH [adjusted HR: 1.94 (95% CI: 1.25-2.99); p = 0.003], new-onset LVH [adjusted 1.74 (95% CI: 1.16-2.60); p = 0.007], and persistent LVH[adjusted HR: 1.96 (95% CI: 1.11-3.46); p = 0.020], compared to those without LVH. Intriguingly, LVH regression attenuated this risk increment [adjusted HR: 1.57 (95% CI: 0.98-2.53); p = 0.062]. Achieving a BP target of < 120/80 mmHg nullified the increased ACE risk in those with pre-existing LVH.

Conclusions: Intensive BP control is instrumental in both reducing the emergence of LVH and fostering its regression. Pre-existing, new-onset LVH and persistent LV remain a predictor of adverse cardiovascular prognosis, whereas LVH regression and achieving on-treatment BP < 120/80 mmHg in pre-existing LVH individuals may further mitigate residual cardiovascular risk.

Clinical trial registration: URL: ClinicalTrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT01206062.

Background: Police officers face an increased risk of developing cerebro-cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, current literature lacks population-based cohort studies specifically focusing on this association. This study aimed to investigate the association between police officers and the risk of developing CVD compared with education officers, while accounting for socioeconomic and demographic factors.

Methods: We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service data spanning from 2009 to 2020. In this population-based retrospective matched cohort study, we identified age, sex, and calendar years of job-enrollment-matched education officers for each police officer. This study evaluated the CVD occurrence, including acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, we determined the risk of developing CVD, expressed as a hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: Among 104,134 police officers and 104,134 education officers, 4,391(42.2%) cases and 3,631(34.9%) cases of CVD occurred, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation age was 38.4 ± 9.4 years in police officers and 38.6 ± 9.5 years in education officers. The proportion of men was 84.8 % in both groups. Police officers were significantly associated with a higher risk of developing CVD compared with education officers, with an adjusted HR of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.09-1.22). In addition, police officers had significantly higher risks for acute myocardial infarction (adjusted HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.26) and ischemic stroke (adjusted HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.09-1.25).

Conclusions: The findings of our study highlight a significant increase in the risk of developing CVD among police officers, particularly among those aged 45 years and older and those with uncontrolled blood pressure compared to their education officer counterparts. Future cohort studies are required to confirm this association.

Heart failure (HF) remains a significant global health burden, and hypertension is known to be the primary contributor to its development. Although aggressive hypertension treatment can prevent heart changes in at-risk patients, determining the optimal blood pressure (BP) targets in cases diagnosed with HF is challenging owing to insufficient evidence. Notably, hypertension is more strongly associated with HF with preserved ejection fraction than with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Patients with acute hypertensive HF exhibit sudden symptoms of acute HF, especially those manifested with severely high BP; however, no specific vasodilator therapy has proven beneficial for this type of acute HF. Since the majority of medications used to treat HF contribute to lowering BP, and BP remains one of the most important hemodynamic markers, targeted BP management is very concerned in treatment strategies. However, no concrete guidelines exist, prompting a trend towards optimizing therapies to within tolerable ranges, rather than setting explicit BP goals. This review discusses the connection between BP and HF, explores its pathophysiology through clinical studies, and addresses its clinical significance and treatment targets.

Background: This article introduces the updated version of the Iranian guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in adults. The initial version of the national guideline was developed in 2011 and updated in 2014. Among the reasons necessitating the update of this guideline were the passage of time, the incompleteness of the scopes, the limitation of the target group, and more important is the request of the ministry of health in Iran.

Method: The members of the guideline updating group, after reviewing the original version and the new evidence, prepared 10 clinical questions regarding hypertension, and based on the evidence found from the latest scientific documents, provided recommendations or suggestions to answer these questions.

Result: According to the updated guideline, the threshold for office prehypertension diagnosis should be considered the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130-139 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80-89 mmHg, and in adults under 75 years of age without comorbidities, the threshold for office hypertension diagnosis should be SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg. The goal of treatment in adults who lack comorbidities and risk factors is SBP < 140 mmHg and DBP < 90 mmHg. The first-line treatment recommended in people with prehypertension is lifestyle modification, while for those with hypertension, pharmacotherapy along with lifestyle modification. The threshold to start drug therapy is determined at SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg, and the first-line treatment is considered a drug or a combined pill of antihypertensive drugs, including ACEIs, ARBs, thiazide and thiazide-like agents, or CCBs. At the beginning of the pharmacotherapy, the Guideline Updating Group members suggested studying serum electrolytes, creatinine, lipid profile, fasting sugar, urinalysis, and an electrocardiogram. Regarding the visit intervals, monthly visits are suggested at the beginning of the treatment or in case of any change in the type or dosage of the drug until achieving the treatment goal, followed by every 3-to-6-month visits. Moreover, to reduce further complications, it was suggested that healthcare unit employees use telehealth strategies.

Conclusions: In this guideline, specific recommendations and suggestions have been presented for adults and subgroups like older people or those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and COVID-19.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with high blood pressure that responds poorly to usual antihypertensive therapy.

Methods and results: Forty-one subjects with OSA had 25% higher plasma norepinephrine and 42% higher epinephrine measured every 2 h over 24 h than 20 control subjects. They also excreted more sodium during sleep. This suggested that that a sympatholytic would be a more successful antihypertensive than a diuretic. To test this hypothesis we treated a second group of 23 hypertensive apneics with placebo, 6 weeks of the sympatholytic guanfacine and 6 weeks of hydrochlorothiazide in a crossover study. Guanfacine lowered 24-hour blood pressure by 9.6/6.7 mmHg, more than the 5.4/2.9 mmHg effect of hydrochlorothiazide (P < 0.05). Nighttime systolic blood pressure dipping was poor at 6.6 ± 1.8%. Hydrochlorothiazide did not alter blood pressure dipping but guanfacine improved dipping to 9.1 ± 1.2%, a better result (P = 0.03) than from the diuretic. Central aortic pressure by pulse wave analysis was 120/84 mmHg on hydrochlorothiazide and 109/72 on guanfacine, (P < 0.05). Guanfacine, but not hydrochlorothiazide, improved baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability and flow mediated vascular dilation, suggesting that decreasing the elevated sympathetic nerve activity of obstructive sleep apnea returned vascular function toward normal.

Conclusions: OSA is the most common condition associated with antihypertensive treatment failure. It increased sympathetic nerve activity day and night. Drugs that block sympathetic nerve function are not among the 4 most commonly recommended classes of antihypertensives but diuretics are. Sympatholytic therapy was superior to diuretic treatment for hypertension associated with sleep apnea.

Trial registration: NCT, NCT02699125, Registered 26 February 2016 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02699125 .

Background: Under the adverse remodeling of the right ventricle and interventricular septum in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) the left ventricle (LV) dynamics is impaired. Despite the benefits of combined aerobic and resistance physical trainings to individuals with PAH, its impact on the LV is not fully understood.

Objective: To test whether moderate-intensity combined physical training performed during the development of PAH induced by MCT in rats is beneficial to the LV's structure and function.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: Sedentary Hypertensive Survival (SHS, n = 7); and Exercise Hypertensive Survival (EHS, n = 7) to test survival. To investigate the effects of combined physical training, another group of rats were divided into three groups: Sedentary Control (SC, n = 7); Sedentary Hypertensive (SH, n = 7); and Exercise Hypertensive (EH, n = 7). PAH was induced through an intraperitoneal injection of MCT (60 mg/kg). Echocardiographic evaluations were conducted on the 22nd day after MCT administration. Animals in the EHS and EH groups participated in a combined physical training program, alternating aerobic (treadmill running: 50 min, 60% maximum running speed) and resistance (ladder climbing: 15 climbs with 1 min interval, 60% maximum carrying load) exercises, one session/day, 5 days/week for approximately 4 weeks.

Results: The physical training increased survival and tolerance to aerobic (i.e., maximum running speed) and resistance (i.e., maximum carrying load) exertions and prevented reductions in ejection fraction and fractional shortening. In addition, the physical training mitigated oxidative stress (i.e., CAT, SOD and MDA) and inhibited adverse LV remodeling (i.e., Collagen, extracellular matrix, and cell dimensions). Moreover, the physical training preserved the amplitude and velocity of contraction and hindered the reductions in the amplitude and velocity of the intracellular Ca²⁺ transient in LV single myocytes.

Conclusion: Moderate-intensity combined physical training performed during the development of MCT-induced PAH in rats protects their LV from damages to its structure and function and hence increases their tolerance to physical exertion and prolongs their survival.

Hypertension is an important modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. The incidence of hypertension is increasing not only in Korea but also in many Western countries due to the aging of the population and the increase in unhealthy lifestyles. However, hypertension control rates remain low due to poor adherence to antihypertensive medications, low awareness of hypertension, and numerous factors that contribute to hypertension, including diet, environment, lifestyle, obesity, and genetics. Because artificial intelligence (AI) involves data-driven algorithms, AI is an asset to understanding chronic diseases that are influenced by multiple factors, such as hypertension. Although several hypertension studies using AI have been published recently, most are exploratory descriptive studies that are often difficult for clinicians to understand and have little clinical relevance. This review aims to provide a clinician-centered perspective on AI by showing recent studies on the relevance of AI for patients with hypertension. The review is organized into sections on blood pressure measurement and hypertension diagnosis, prognosis, and management.

Many individuals have different blood pressure (BP) values in the office setting compared to that outside the office setting. Therefore, confirming hypertension based on office BP (OBP) measurement alone can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. The limitations of OBP measurement have led to the complementary use of out-of-office BP measurements, including 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM). This review aims to describe when and how ABPM or HBPM can be used to accurately diagnose and treat hypertension. Both methods should be performed using validated automated oscillometric devices. To minimize user errors, ABPM should be performed using standard techniques, whereas HBPM requires patient education regarding proper BP measurements. ABPM provides short-term comprehensive information on BP, including daytime, nighttime, morning, and 24-h BP. Therefore, ABPM is recommended for the initial diagnosis of hypertension, assessment of BP phenotypes and circadian patterns, and detection of nocturnal hypertension, Furthermore, ABPM plays a critical role in confirming true resistant hypertension thereby excluding pseudo-resistant hypertension. However, it is not suitable for long-term follow-up of patients with hypertension. In contrast, HBPM involves multiple BP readings taken at specific times during the day and evening over a long period. Therefore, HBPM is recommended for diagnosing hypertension and assessing BP phenotypes. However, this method has limitations in measuring nocturnal BP and circadian BP patterns. HBPM is preferred over ABPM for the long-term follow-up of patients with hypertension. This approach improves patient adherence to treatment and ultimately enhances the rate of control of hypertension. Additionally, both methods play an important role in diagnosing and treating white coat hypertension during pregnancy. Consequently, out-of-office BP measurement is essential to prevent the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of hypertension. However, these two methods offer different information regarding the BP status of an individual, and they indeed show discrepancies in the diagnosis of hypertensive phenotypes. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the advantages and limitations of both ABPM and HBPM to ensure their appropriate use in clinical practice.

Hypertension is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hypertension mostly accompanies no symptoms, and therefore blood pressure (BP) measurement is the only way for early recognition and timely treatment. Methods for BP measurement have a long history of development and improvement. Invasive method via arterial cannulation was first proven possible in the 1800's. Subsequent scientific progress led to the development of the auscultatory method, also known as Korotkoff' sound, and the oscillometric method, which enabled clinically available BP measurement. However, hypertension management status is still poor. Globally, less than half of adults are aware of their hypertension diagnosis, and only one-third of them being treated are under control. Novel methods are actively investigated thanks to technological advances such as sensors and machine learning in addition to the clinical needs for easier and more convenient BP measurement. Each method adopts different technologies with its own specific advantages and disadvantages. Promises of novel methods include comprehensive information on out-of-office BP capturing dynamic short-term and long-term fluctuations. However, there are still pitfalls such as the need for regular calibration since most novel methods capture relative BP changes rather than an absolute value. In addition, there is growing concern on their accuracy and precision as conventional validation protocols are inappropriate for cuffless continuous methods. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the past and present of BP measurement methods. Novel and emerging technologies are also introduced with respect to their potential applications and limitations.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) strongly predicts cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and death. One-fourth of Thai adults suffer from hypertension. Nevertheless, the information on LVH among Thai patients with hypertension is not well characterized. We aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with electrocardiographic LVH (ECG-LVH) among patients with hypertension in Thailand.

Methods: The present study obtained the dataset from the Thailand Diabetes Mellitus/Hypertension study, which included hypertension patients aged 20 years and older receiving continuous care at outpatient clinics in hospitals nationwide in 2011-2015 and 2018. Meanwhile, those without a record of 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) were excluded from the analysis. ECG-LVH was defined as the LVH noted regarding ECG interpretation in the medical records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized for determining factors associated with ECG-LVH and presented as the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: From 226,420 hypertensive patients in the Thailand Diabetes Mellitus/Hypertension study, 38,807 individuals (17.1%) with ECG data recorded were included in the analysis. The mean age was 64.8 ± 11.5 years, and 62.2% were women. Overall, 1,557 study participants had ECG-LVH, with an estimated prevalence of 4.0% (95% CI, 3.8-4.2%). Age-adjusted ECG-LVH prevalence among women and men was 3.4 and 5.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis determined factors associated with ECG-LVH, including being men (AOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.31-1.69), individuals aged 70 to 79 years (AOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.20-2.02) and ≥ 80 years (AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.58-2.78) compared to individuals aged less than 50 years, current smokers (AOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09-1.46) compared to those who never smoked, systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg (AOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.30-1.92) compared to systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg.

Conclusions: The current study illustrated the prevalence of ECG-LVH among Thai patients with hypertension who had ECG recorded and identified high-risk groups who tended to have ECG-LVH. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, particularly among high-risk groups such as older individuals, men, and current smokers, to address modifiable factors associated with ECG-LVH.