Masked nocturnal hypertension--a novel marker of risk in type 2 diabetes

Smoking and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), medications such as antihypertensives and statins can reduce the increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cigarette smoking on major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and all-cause mortality in patients with T2D in a relatively well treated Swedish cohort.

METHODS

Seven hundred and sixty-one patients with T2D aged 55-66 years were followed in the prospective observational CArdiovascular Risk factors in patients with DIabetes - a Prospective study in Primary care (CARDIPP) study. Baseline data included blood samples of markers of dysglycemia and inflammation, blood pressure as well as questionnaire responses regarding cigarette smoking. Participants were followed for incidence of MACE and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Of the included 663 participants, the mean age was 60.6 (SD 3.1) years and 423 (63.8%) were men. Levels of C-reactive protein and vitamin D, as well as the proportion of participants treated with antihypertensives, acetylic salicylic acid, statins, and diabetes medications, were similar between smokers and nonsmokers. Median follow-up time was 11.9 (Q1-Q3 10.8-12.7) years. Cigarette smoking was associated with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio 2.24 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.40-3.56), P  < 0.001], but not MACE [hazard ratio 1.30 (95% CI 0.77-2.18), P  = 0.328].

CONCLUSION

In patients with T2D, cigarette smoking was not associated with an increased risk of MACE. This raises the question of whether cardioprotective drugs in individuals with T2D to some degree mitigate the cardiovascular harm of smoking, even though they do not affect other dire consequences of smoking.

Time to Change Our Viewpoints to Assess Renal Risks in Patients with Solitary Kidneys beyond Traditional Approaches?

Solitary functioning kidney (SFK) can be defined as the absence or hypofunction of a kidney due to acquired or congenital reasons. A congenital solitary functioning kidney (cSFK) is more common than is an acquired one (aSFK) and is characterized by the anatomical absence (agenesis) or hypofunction (hypoplasia; hypodysplasia) of one kidney from birth. Among the acquired causes, the most important is nephrectomy (Nx) (due to the donor, trauma or mass resection). Patients with SFK are at risk for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the long term. This risk potential is also significantly affected by hypertension. The relationship between hypertension and subclinical chronic inflammation is a connection that has not yet been fully clarified pathogenetically, but there are many studies highlighting this association. In recent years, studies examining different fibrosis and inflammation biomarkers in terms of the evaluation and prediction of renal risks have become increasingly popular in the literature. Oxidative stress is known to play an important role in homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction and has been associated with hypertension. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and urinary/serum fibrosis and inflammatory markers in patients with SFK. We prospectively investigated the relationship between ABPM results and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP), homocysteine and other variables in 85 patients with SFK and compared them between cSFK and aSFK groups. In the etiology of SFK, a congenital or acquired origin may differ in terms of the significance of biomarkers. In particular, the serum homocysteine level may be associated with different clinical outcomes in patients with cSFK and aSFK.

Classification of blood pressure during sleep impacts designation of nocturnal nondipping

The identification of nocturnal nondipping blood pressure (< 10% drop in mean systolic blood pressure from awake to sleep periods), as captured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, is a valuable element of risk prediction for cardiovascular disease, independent of daytime or clinic blood pressure measurements. However, capturing measurements, including determination of wake/sleep periods, is challenging. Accordingly, we sought to evaluate the impact of different definitions and algorithms for defining sleep onset on the classification of nocturnal nondipping. Using approaches based upon participant self-reports, applied definition of a common sleep period (12 am -6 am), manual actigraphy, and automated actigraphy we identified changes to the classification of nocturnal nondipping, and conducted a secondary analysis on the potential impact of an ambulatory blood pressure monitor on sleep. Among 61 participants in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network hypertension study with complete ambulatory blood pressure monitor and sleep data, the concordance for nocturnal nondipping across methods was 0.54 by Fleiss' Kappa (depending on the method, 36 to 51 participants classified as having nocturnal nondipping). Sleep quality for participants with dipping versus nondipping was significantly different for total sleep length when wearing the ambulatory blood pressure monitor (shorter sleep duration) versus not (longer sleep duration), although there were no differences in sleep efficiency or disturbances. These findings indicate that consideration of sleep time measurements is critical for interpreting ambulatory blood pressure. As technology advances to detect blood pressure and sleep patterns, further investigation is needed to determine which method should be used for diagnosis, treatment, and future cardiovascular risk.

Controversies in Hypertension III: Dipping, Nocturnal Hypertension, and the Morning Surge

A comprehensive approach to hypertension requires out-of-office determinations by home and/or ambulatory monitoring. The 4 phenotypes comparing office and out-of-office pressures in treated and untreated patients include normotension, hypertension, white-coat phenomena, and masked phenomena. Components of out-of-office pressure may be equally as important as mean values. Nighttime pressures are normally 10 - 20% lower than daytime (normal "dipping"). Abnormalities include dipping more than 20% (extreme dippers), less than 10 % (non-dippers), or rising above daytime (risers) and have been associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. Nighttime pressure may be elevated (nocturnal hypertension) in isolation or together with daytime hypertension. Isolated nocturnal hypertension theoretically changes white-coat hypertension to true hypertension and normotension to masked hypertension. Pressure normally peaks in the morning hours ("morning surge") when cardiovascular events are most common. Morning hypertension may result from residual nocturnal hypertension or an exaggerated surge and has been associated with enhanced cardiovascular risk, especially in Asian populations. Randomized trials are needed to determine whether altering therapy based solely on either abnormal dipping, isolated nocturnal hypertension, and/or an abnormal surge is justified.

Sense of vitality is associated with cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes independently of traditional risk factors and arterial stiffness

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine if single items in the quality of life questionnaire short form 36 (SF36) were associated with cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

In 756 T2DM patients (260 women) from the CARDIPP study, nine questions from the domains vitality and well-being in SF36 were analysed. Patients, 55-66 years, were recruited in 2005-2008 and followed up until 31 December 2018 for the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), that is, myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death.

RESULTS

Median follow-up time: 11.6 years, during which 119 (16%) MACE occurred. The SF36 items: 'seldom full of pep' (HR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4, p = 0.006), 'seldom a lot of energy' (HR 1.3, 95%CI: 1.1-1.5, p < 0.001), 'worn out' (HR 1.2, 95%CI: 1.0-1.4, p = 0.020) and 'seldom happy' (HR 1.2, 95%CI: 1.0-1.4, p = 0.012) were independent risk factors for MACE in separate models, as well as male sex, diabetes duration, HbA1c , sagittal abdominal diameter and aortic pulse wave velocity. The variables 'seldom full of pep' and 'seldom a lot of energy' remained associated with MACE when conducting separate analyses for sexes. Only 'seldom a lot of energy' remained associated with MACE when all items from SF-36 were comprised in the same model.

CONCLUSIONS

One single question regarding energy levels from SF36 may be used as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events in T2DM patients in primary care, for both men and women. This item may be included in future risk assessment for use in clinical practice for cardiovascular risk stratification of T2DM patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered in clinicaltrial.gov (NCT01049737) in 14 January 2010.

Ambulatory hypertension diagnosed by 24-h mean ambulatory versus day and night ambulatory blood pressure thresholds in children: a cross-sectional study

Background

The agreement between the commonly used ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) thresholds to diagnose ambulatory hypertension in children (patient’s 24-h mean ABP classified by 24-h 95th ABP percentile threshold, American Heart Association [AHA] threshold, or patient’s day and night mean ABP classified by day-night 95th ABP percentile thresholds) is not known. We evaluated the agreement among 24-h ABP threshold, AHA threshold, and day-night ABP thresholds to diagnose ambulatory hypertension, white coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH).

Methods

In a cross-sectional study design, we analyzed ABP recordings from 450 participants with suspected hypertension from a tertiary care outpatient hypertension clinic. The American Academy of Pediatrics thresholds were used to diagnose office hypertension.

Results

The 24-h ABP threshold and day-night ABP thresholds classified 19% ABP (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15–0.23) differently into ambulatory normotension/hypertension (kappa [κ], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.51–0.66). Ambulatory hypertension diagnosed by 24-h ABP threshold in 27% participants (95% CI, 0.22–0.32) was significantly lower than that by day-night ABP thresholds in 44% participants (95% CI, 0.37–0.50; P < 0.001). The AHA threshold had a stronger agreement with 24-h ABP threshold than with day-night ABP thresholds for classifying ABP into ambulatory normotension/hypertension (k 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.98 vs. k 0.59, 95% CI 0.52–0.66). The diagnosis of ambulatory hypertension by the AHA threshold (26%; 95% CI, 0.21–0.31) was closer to that by 24-h ABP threshold (27%, P = 0.73) than by day-night ABP thresholds (44%, P < 0.001). Similar agreement pattern persisted among these ABP thresholds for diagnosing WCH and MH.

Conclusions

The 24-h ABP threshold classifies a lower proportion of ABP as ambulatory hypertension than day-night ABP thresholds. The AHA threshold exhibits a stronger agreement with 24-h ABP than with day-night ABP thresholds for diagnosing ambulatory hypertension, WCH and MH. Our findings are relevant for a consistent interpretation of hypertension by these ABP thresholds in clinical practice.

Hypertension management in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities

Arterial hypertension is a leading cause of death globally. Due to ageing, the rising incidence of obesity, and socioeconomic and environmental changes, its incidence increases worldwide. Hypertension commonly coexists with Type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking leading to risk amplification. Blood pressure lowering by lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive drugs reduce cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Guidelines recommend dual- and triple-combination therapies using renin–angiotensin system blockers, calcium channel blockers, and/or a diuretic. Comorbidities often complicate management. New drugs such as angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists improve CV and renal outcomes. Catheter-based renal denervation could offer an alternative treatment option in comorbid hypertension associated with increased sympathetic nerve activity. This review summarises the latest clinical evidence for managing hypertension with CV comorbidities.

Masked nocturnal hypertension as a result of high prevalence of non-dippers among apparently well-controlled hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: data from a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) show the dipping patterns, identify masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH), and demonstrate the effectiveness of the blood pressure (BP) treatment. MUCH is associated with a two-fold higher risk of adverse events. Prevalence in patients with DM is between 13.3 and 66.4%. Our study aims to investigate the prevalence of MUCH and the BP patterns in a population of apparently well-controlled hypertensive patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). A second aspect was the assessment of the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty-three consecutively treated hypertensive patients with T2DM and an office BP between 130-139 and 80-89 mmHg performed a 24 h ABPM. The circadian BP variation, the presence of MUCH, and the correlations with the treatment were assessed.

RESULTS

There were 75 dippers (46.02%), 77 non-dippers (47.23%), 4 reverse dippers (2.45%), and 7 extreme dippers (4.30%). Eighty-one patients (77 non-dippers + 4 reverse dippers; 49.7%) had isolated nocturnal MUCH according to the mean night ABPM criteria. Dippers and extreme dippers (75 dippers + 7 extreme dippers; 51.3%) did not have any MUCH criteria. The patients took, on an average, 3 antihypertensive drugs with no difference between those with controlled HTN and the isolated nocturnal MUCH group. Significant factors associated with isolated nocturnal MUCH and a non-dipping BP pattern included age > 65 years (OR = 1.9), DM duration > 10 years (OR = 1.4), HTN duration > 6.5 years (OR = 1.2), obesity (OR = 1.6), and cardiovascular comorbidities (OR = 1.4).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study shows that half of the treated hypertensive patients with T2DM and office clinical normotension are non-dippers or reverse dippers. They experience isolated nocturnal MUCH due to their elevated nocturnal BP values, which comply with the actual definition of masked nocturnal hypertension. Bedtime chronotherapy in those patients could be linked to better effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment during the night with the important goal of reducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events. ABPM should be performed in hypertensive patients with DM for better risk stratification and more effective control of HTN.

Clinical effect of nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease: expectations as a new therapeutic strategy

Diabetes mellitus is the main cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Japan and worldwide. Although angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) are basic drugs for the treatment of CKD with diabetes (diabetic kidney disease, DKD) with albuminuria and/or proteinuria, it has also become clear that the use of an ACE inhibitor or ARB alone is not fully sufficient. We have previously reported the clinical effects of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists and recommended their use in addition to renin-angiotensin system inhibitors. Recently, new types of nonsteroidal MR antagonists have been developed, and the results of a large-scale study are expected. Nonsteroidal MR antagonists are distributed in the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys when administered orally and are characterized by their equivalent distribution between the heart (nonepithelial tissue) and kidneys (epithelial tissue). We summarize the latest evidence regarding the use of nonsteroidal MR antagonists in the treatment of DKD. Hyperkalemia and renal dysfunction are frequent during MR antagonist treatment. However, with careful and combined monitoring of these two conditions, the effectiveness of MR antagonists will not be diminished; conversely, it is apparent that patients at such risk will benefit more from the addition of an MR antagonist to the treatment regimen. The most important measure against hyperkalemia is the regular monitoring of serum potassium levels and renal function. The safest and most reliable measure against hyperkalemia is the combined use of a new oral potassium adsorbent that has high potassium selectivity and few side effects. In DKD treatment, it is important to continue using MR antagonists without interruption as much as possible.

Utility of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in detection of masked hypertension and risk of hypertension mediated organ damage in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

In patients with diabetes, unrecognised hypertension is a serious problem risk factor for the development and progression of chronic complications. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of masked hypertension in normotensive diabetic patients, the factors affecting it, and its association with diabetes complications using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 150 normotensive diabetic patients. Patients were subjected to an interview and clinical examination to record demographic data, epidemiological data, and significant past history. ABPM was performed for each patient. Urine samples, echocardiogram, and ophthalmologic fundoscopy were done to check for diabetes-related complications.

RESULTS

The mean age of all participants was 56.7 ± 7.8 years. A total of 93 patients (62%) were males. 99 (66%) patients had masked hypertension. A total of 85 (56.7%) were non-dippers, 49 (32.7%) were dippers, 1 (0.7%) was extreme dipper and 15 (10%) were reverse dippers. Non-dipping and reverse dipping were associated with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy LVH (p < .001). Masked hypertension was associated with concentric LVH (p = .001) and nephropathy (p =.008) whereas, nocturnal hypertension was associated with concentric LVH (p = .001) and nephropathy (p =.003).

CONCLUSIONS

A single office blood pressure (BP) reading cannot rule out hypertension in patients with diabetes. Regardless of hypertension, clinicians should have all patients, especially patients with diabetes, undergo ABPM at least once. Masked hypertension, changes in nocturnal dipping and other phenomena that raise the risk of diabetes complications but cannot be measured by office BP can be measured by ABPM, and thus ABPM can provide a good prognostic benefit.

Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension in Children

Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) is attracting attention because it has been shown to correlate with target organ damage as well as cardiovascular events in adults. INH has also been reported in children especially in those with underlying diseases including chronic kidney disease and some studies reported association with markers of early target organ damage. INH occupies the majority of nocturnal hypertension. On the other hand, masked hypertension is largely attributed to INH. INH is usually diagnosed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Recently, it became possible to monitor sleep blood pressure by an automated home blood pressure device feasible also in children. The epidemiology, methodology and reproducibility, pathophysiology, relation to target organ damage, and treatment of INH in children will be reviewed here along with adult data.

Hypertensive Phenotypes and Pattern of Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Patients of Diabetes Mellitus of Kashmir Valley

BACKGROUND

Patients of diabetes mellitus (DM) with hypertension (HTN) have a fourfold increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as compared to normotensive nondiabetic controls. However, many patients of DM who are normotensive or have controlled blood pressure on office BP measurement (OBPM) may assume that they do not have increased risk of CVD but may be having HTN or uncontrolled blood pressure on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

STUDY DESIGN OBJECTIVE

A cross-sectional observational study to compare OBPM with ABPM and thus predict various hypertensive phenotypes like masked hypertension (MH) and white coat hypertension and pattern of blood pressure in diabetic patients of our population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred patients of DM with or without HTN were included in this study. The cases were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination, OBPM, and ABPM.

RESULTS

Out of 200 patients of DM, 32 were normotensives, 46 were hypertensives controlled on antihypertensive treatment, 22 were hypertensives not on anti-hypertensive treatment, and 100 were hypertensives uncontrolled on anti-hypertensive treatment. Among 32 normotensive diabetics, 17 (53%) patients had MH on ABPM. Out of these 32 normotensive patients, 7 (21.8%) had isolated nocturnal hypertension, 3 (9.3%) had isolated day-time HTN (IDH) and 7 (21.8%) had day-time and nocturnal HTN (DNH). Patients with MH had higher BMI, an observation that was statistically significant. Non-dipping pattern was found in 53% of patients of masked HTN. Out of 46 hypertensive diabetics with controlled OBPM on antihypertensive treatment, 26 (56.5%) had masked effect or masked uncontrolled hypertension on ABPM. Out of 22 diabetics with treatment naïve HTN, 7 (32%) were found to have white coat hypertension on ABPM. Fifteen (15%) patients out of 100 hypertensive diabetics with uncontrolled OBPM despite on anti-hypertensive were found to have white coat effect on ABPM. Patients with white coat effect had higher body mass index an observation that was statistically significant (p = 0.039). Non-dipping pattern was significantly associated with longer duration of diabetes (≥ 120 months), retinopathy and neuropathy.

CONCLUSION

To rely exclusively on OBPM to diagnose HTN and monitor blood pressure may underestimate the CVD risk especially in diabetics. ABPM is a tool that may not only help clinicians in starting anti-HTN treatment perspicuously, but also may help in avoiding unnecessary anti-hypertensive treatment and/or withdrawing anti-hypertensive treatment as indicated and thus avoiding credulity.

Appraisal of Guidelines for the Management of Blood Pressure in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: The Consensuses, Controversies and Gaps

BACKGROUND

Currently available guidelines contain conflicting recommendations on the management of blood pressure (BP) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, it is necessary to appraise the guidelines and summarize the agreements and differences among recommendations.

METHODS

Four databases and the websites of guideline organizations were searched for guidelines regarding BP targets and thresholds for pharmacologic therapy in DM patients, and the included guidelines were appraised with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument.

RESULTS

In 6,498 records identified, 20 guidelines met our inclusion criteria with 64.0% AGREE II scores (interquartile range, 48.5% to 72.0%). The scores of the European and American guidelines were superior to those of the Asian guidelines (both adjusted P<0.001). Most of the guidelines advocated systolic BP targets <130 mm Hg (12 guidelines, 60%) and diastolic BP targets <80 mm Hg (14 guidelines, 70%) in DM patients. Approximately half of the guidelines supported systolic BP thresholds >140 mm Hg (10 guidelines, 50%) and diastolic BP thresholds >90 mm Hg (nine guidelines, 45%). The tiny minority of the guidelines provided the relevant recommendations regarding the lower limit of official BP targets and the ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM)/home BP monitoring (HBPM) targets and thresholds in DM patients.

CONCLUSION

The lower official BP targets (<130/80 mm Hg) in patients with DM are advocated by most of the guidelines, but they contain conflicting recommendations on the official BP thresholds. Moreover, the gaps regarding the lower limit of official BP targets and the ABPM/HBPM targets and thresholds need to be considered by future study.

Guide de Pratique Clinique. Prise en charge de l’hypertension artérielle chez l’adulte en Tunisie

Ce document a été réalisé dans le cadre d'une collaboration entre l'Instance Nationale de l’Évaluation et de l'Accréditation en Santé (INEAS), la Société Tunisienne de Cardiologie et de Chirurgie Cardiovasculaire (STCCCV) et la Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie (CNAM).

Relationships between cardiovascular risk factors and white-coat hypertension diagnosed by home blood pressure recordings in a middle-aged population

Objective:

To study risk in white-coat hypertension (WCH) by measurement of coronary artery calcium score (CACS), carotid--femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and carotid plaques.

Methods:

Cross-sectional population-based cohort with randomized selection of participants from Linköping, Sweden. An Omron m10-IT oscillometric device was used for clinic and home blood pressures (HBP) in the morning and evening for 1 week.

Results:

We recruited 5029 middle-aged and mainly defined WCH as SBP at least 140 mmHg and/or DBP at least 90 mmHg with HBP less than 135/85 mmHg. There were 2680 normotensive participants and 648 had WCH after exclusion of treated participants. More women (59.5%) than men (42.8%, P < 0.001) had WCH. We found higher prevalence of CACS greater than 100 compared with less than 100 (12.4 vs. 7.2%, P < 0.001), PWV (11.5 ± 1.5 vs. 10.4 ± 1.3 m/s, P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of one or more carotid plaques (59.5 vs. 48%, P < 0.001) in participants with WCH than in normotension. Participants with WCH also had more dyslipidemia and higher glucose levels. Normotensive women scored lower on nervousness than women with WCH (P = 0.022). After matching of 639 participants with WCH to normotensive participants according to age, gender and systolic HBP the prevalence of a high CACS (12.1 vs. 8.6%, P = 0.003,) PWV (11.0 ± 0.068 vs. 11.5 ± 0.068 m/s, estimated marginal means ± SE, P < 0.001 by ANOVA) but not more carotid plaques (59.5 vs. 55.6%, P = 0.23), remained in the participants with WCH compared with the matched normotensive participants.

Conclusion:

WCH is particularly common in middle-aged women, and it displays metabolic dysfunction and increased prevalence of arteriosclerotic manifestations in both genders. As markers of increased cardiovascular risk were present also after matching normotensive and WCH participants according to systolic HBP, age and gender, the presence of WCH signals an increased cardiovascular risk burden that is not fully explained by elevated BP levels at home.

Significance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in assessment of potential living kidney donors

The most recent British Transplant Society (BTS) guidelines recommend that office blood pressure (BP) monitoring in living donors is sufficient for the assessment of hypertension (HTN) and those with BP >140/90 should be further assessed using ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). ABPM can detect diurnal and nocturnal variation in BP, thus it can identify masked HTN. The aim of the current study is to assess reliability of ABPM vesus office BP monitoring for assessment in living kidney donors. Office and ABPM of all potential kidney donors at a single center from April 2009 to March 2017 were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Age, sex, body mass index, kidney function, and echocardiography results were collected and analyzed. Two hundred and sixteen kidney donors were stratified based on their BP readings into four groups; group 1 (masked HTN: normotensive in office and hypertensive in ABPM), group 2 (sustained normotension: normotensive in office and in ABPM), group 3 (sustained HTN: hypertensive in office and in ABPM), group 4 (white-coat HTN: hypertensive in office and normotensive in ABPM). Thirteen percent of patients were diagnosed with masked HTN. Office systolic BP monitoring was significantly higher in patients older than 50 years old compared to other younger populations. However, this significant difference in systolic BP was diminished when assessment with ABPM was performed. In conclusion, ABPM is a reliable modality for the identification of masked HTN and white coat HTN. Masked HTN is correlated with increased risk of end organ damage and risk of death in potential kidney donors. Transplant physicians cannot rely solely on office BP monitoring in the assessment of potential living kidney donors. ABPM should be integral part of routine assessment of potential living kidney donors.

The Role of Nocturnal Blood Pressure and Sleep Quality in Hypertension Management

The accurate measurement, prediction and treatment of high blood pressure (BP) are essential to the management of hypertension and the prevention of its associated cardiovascular (CV) risks. However, even if BP is optimally controlled during the day, nocturnal high blood pressure may still increase the risk of CV events. The pattern of circadian rhythm of BP can be evaluated by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Night-time ABPM is more closely associated with fatal and nonfatal CV events than daytime ambulatory BP. However, the use of ABPM is limited by low availability and the fact that it can cause sleep disturbance, therefore may not provide realistic nocturnal measurements. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) offers an inexpensive alternative to ABPM, is preferred by patients and provides a more realistic assessment of BP during an individual’s daily life. However, until recently, HBPM did not offer the possibility to measure nocturnal (sleep time) BP. The development and validation of new BP devices, such as the NightView (OMRON Healthcare, HEM9601T-E3) HBPM device, could overcome these limitations, offering the possibility of daytime and night-time BP measurements with minimal sleep disturbance.

Blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes mellitus with arterial hypertension. The important ancillary role of SGLT2-inhibitors and GLP1-receptor agonists

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension are major cardiovascular risks factors which shares metabolic and haemodynamic abnormalities as well as pathophysiological mechanisms. The simultaneous presence of diabetes and arterial hypertension increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy, congestive heart failure, and stroke, as compared to either condition alone. A number of guidelines recommend lifestyle measures such as salt restriction, weight reduction and ideal body weight mainteinance, regular physical activity and smoking cessation, together with moderation of alcohol consumption and high intake of vegetables and fruits, as the basis for reduction of blood pressure and prevention of CV diseases. Despite the availability of multiple drugs effective for hypertension, BP targets are reached in only 50 % of patients, with even fewer individuals with T2DM-achieving goals. It is established that new emerging classes of type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1-receptor agonists, are efficacious on glucose control, and safe in reducing HbA1c significantly, without increasing hypoglycemic episodes. Furthermore, in recent years, many CVOT trials have demonstrated, using GLP1-RA or SGLT2-inihibitors compared to placebo (in combination with the usual diabetes medications) important benefits on reducing MACE (cardio-cerebral vascular events) in the diabetic population. In this hypothesis-driven review, we have examined the anti-hypertensive effects of these novel molecules of the two different classes, in the diabetic population, and suggest that they could have an interesting ancillary role in controlling blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients.

Isolated nocturnal and isolated daytime hypertension associate with altered cardiovascular morphology and function in children with chronic kidney disease: findings from the Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease study

INTRODUCTION

Prevalence of isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) and isolated daytime hypertension (IDH) is around 10% in adults. Data in children, especially in chronic kidney disease (CKD), are lacking. The aim of this cross-sectional multicenter cohort study was to define the prevalence of INH and IDH and its association with cardiovascular morphology and function, that is, pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), or left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in children with CKD.

METHODS

Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring profiles were analyzed in 456 children with CKD stages III-V participating in the Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease Study (64.3% males, 71.3% congenital anomaly of the kidney and urinary tract, age 12.5 ± 3.2 years, estimated glomerular filtration rate 29 ± 12 ml/min per 1.73 m). Baseline PWV, cIMT, and LVMI were compared in normotension, INH, IDH, or sustained 24-h hypertension.

RESULTS

Prevalence of sustained hypertension was 18.4%, of INH 13.4%, and of IDH 3.7%. PWV SDS (SD score) and cIMT SDS were significantly higher in sustained hypertension and INH, and PWV SDS was significantly higher in IDH, compared with normotension. LVMI was significantly increased in sustained hypertension, but not in INH or IDH. Determinants of INH were smallness for gestational age, older age, higher height SDS and parathyroid hormone, and shorter duration of CKD. In logistic regression analysis, day/night-time hypertension or ambulatory BP monitoring pattern (normal, INH, IDH, sustained hypertension) were independently associated with cardiovascular outcome measures: elevated night-time BP was associated with increased cIMT, PWV, and left ventricular hypertrophy; INH was associated with cIMT.

CONCLUSION

INH is present in almost one out of seven children with predialysis CKD; INH and nocturnal hypertension in general are associated with alterations of arterial morphology and function.

Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension: What Do We Know and What Can We Do?

Nocturnal hypertension has been recognized as a significant risk factor for cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. Blood pressure (BP) monitoring significantly increased our awareness of nocturnal hypertension and studies revealed its influence on target organ damage. Nocturnal hypertension is associated with nonphysiological 24-h BP patterns, which consider inadequate drop or even increment of nighttime BP in comparison with daytime BP (nondipping and reverse dipping). Nevertheless, investigations showed that nocturnal hypertension was a predictor of adverse outcome independently of circadian BP pattern. There are still many uncertainties regarding diagnosis, mechanisms and treatment of nocturnal hypertension. There is a small difference between American and European guidelines in cutoff values defining nocturnal hypertension. Pathophysiology is also not clear because many conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, sleep apnea syndrome, and renal diseases are related to nocturnal hypertension and nonphysiological circadian BP pattern, but mechanisms of nocturnal hypertension still remain speculative. Therapeutic approach is another important issue and chronotherapy provided the best results so far. There are studies which showed that some groups of antihypertensive medications are more effective in regulation of nocturnal BP, but it seems that the timing of drug administration has a crucial role in the reduction of nighttime BP and conversion of circadian patterns from nonphysiologic to physiologic. Follow-up studies are necessary to define clinical benefits of nocturnal BP reduction and restoring unfavorable 24-h BP variations to physiological variant.

Control of 24-hour blood pressure with SGLT2 inhibitors to prevent cardiovascular disease

The presence of hypertension (HTN) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) further worsens cardiovascular disease (CVD) prognosis. In addition, masked HTN and abnormal circadian blood pressure (BP) variability are common among patients with DM. Clinical trial data show that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve CVD prognosis and prevent progression of renal dysfunction in high-risk patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). Consistent reductions in 24-hour, daytime and nocturnal BP have been documented during treatment with SGLT2i in patients with DM and HTN, and these reductions are of a magnitude that is likely to be clinically significant. SGLT2i agents also appear to have beneficial effects on morning, evening and nocturnal home BP. Greater reductions in BP during treatment with SGLT2i have been reported in patient subgroups with higher body mass index, and in those with higher baseline BP. Other documented beneficial effects of SGLT2i include reductions in arterial stiffness and the potential to decrease the apnea-hypopnea index in patients with DM and obstructive sleep apnea. Recent guidelines highlight the important role of SGLT2i as part of the pharmacological management of patients with DM and HTN, and recommend consideration of SGLT2i early in the clinical course to reduce all-cause and CVD mortality in patients with T2DM and CVD. Overall, available data support a role for SGLT2i as effective BP-lowering agents in patients with T2DM and poorly controlled HTN, irrespective of baseline glucose control status. Sustained improvements in 24-hour BP and the 24-hour BP profile are likely to contribute to the CVD benefits of SGLT2i treatment.

Österreichischer Blutdruckkonsens 2019

Erhöhter Blutdruck bleibt eine Hauptursache von kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Behinderung und frühzeitiger Sterblichkeit in Österreich, wobei die Raten an Diagnose, Behandlung und Kontrolle auch in rezenten Studien suboptimal sind. Das Management von Bluthochdruck ist eine häufige Herausforderung für Ärztinnen und Ärzte vieler Fachrichtungen. In einem Versuch, diagnostische und therapeutische Strategien zu standardisieren und letztendlich die Rate an gut kontrollierten Hypertoniker/innen zu erhöhen und dadurch kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen zu verhindern, haben 13 österreichische medizinische Fachgesellschaften die vorhandene Evidenz zur Prävention, Diagnose, Abklärung, Therapie und Konsequenzen erhöhten Blutdrucks gesichtet. Das hier vorgestellte Ergebnis ist der erste Österreichische Blutdruckkonsens. Die Autoren und die beteiligten Fachgesellschaften sind davon überzeugt, daß es einer gemeinsamen nationalen Anstrengung bedarf, die Blutdruck-assoziierte Morbidität und Mortalität in unserem Land zu verringern.

Challenges of hypertension and dementia in the Indian subcontinent: a review

Hypertension is regarded as a major contributor to vascular disease. Vascular disease is a fairly common denominator in a large percentage of cases of dementia. Despite this strong connecting link, dementia is often not considered as a mainstream problem consequent to hypertension, though there is an alarming increase in the number of cases of dementia. While established dementia has very few treatment options, prevention of development and slowing of progression of dementia by proper treatment of hypertension could be an important strategy, especially so, in a financially challenged Indian subcontinent with inhomogeneous health coverage. None of us wants to be reminded that dementia is random, relentless, and frighteningly common-Laurie Graham.

Diastolic Reverse Dipping Pattern Is the Predictor for the Echocardiographic Changes in the Untreated Masked Hypertensive Patients

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of the dipping categories of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between DBP dipping categories of diastolic blood pressure and echocardiographic changes in untreated masked hypertension (MH) patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 721 untreated MH patients between June 2006 and June 2016. Nocturnal dipping categories were defined according to the percentage decrease in nocturnal blood pressure (BP) compared to daytime BP as follows: non-dipping: decrease 0% to <10%, dipping: decrease 10% to 20%, reverse dipping: decrease <0%, and extreme dipping: decrease >20%. The echocardiographic findings were analyzed.

RESULTS

The 4 echocardiographic parameters (left atrium [LA] dimension, interventricular septum [IVS] thickness, linear left ventricular end-diastolic dimension [LVEDD], and left ventricular [LV] mass) were significantly different among the 4 DBP dipping categories. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that DBP reverse dipping pattern was associated with higher IVS thickness (B: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.82; P < 0.001) and LV mass (B: 12.36, 95% CI: 2.38 to 22.35; P = 0.015), whereas DBP extreme dipping was associated with lower LVEDD (B: -7.05, 95% CI: -11.30 to -2.80; P = 0.001).The nocturnal systolic hypertension was associated with higher IVS thickness (B: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.71; P = 0.003) and LV mass (B:14.21, 95% CI: 4.54 to 23.88; P = 0.004). The nocturnal systolic blood pressure was associated with LA dimension, IVS thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, and LV mass (all Ps < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that specific DBP dipping categories and nocturnal systolic hypertension were the predictive factors for the echocardiographic changes in untreated MH patients.

Twenty-Four-Hour Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of a Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor in Patients With Diabetes and Uncontrolled Nocturnal Hypertension: Results From the Randomized, Placebo-Controlled SACRA Study

BACKGROUND

The risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in salt-sensitive patients with diabetes mellitus and uncontrolled nocturnal hypertension is high. The SACRA (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 [SGLT2] Inhibitor and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker [ARB] Combination Therapy in Patients With Diabetes and Uncontrolled Nocturnal Hypertension) study investigated changes in blood pressure (BP) with empagliflozin plus existing antihypertensive therapy.

METHODS

This multicenter, double-blind, parallel study was conducted in Japan. Adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and uncontrolled nocturnal hypertension receiving stable antihypertensive therapy including angiotensin receptor blockers were randomized to 12 weeks' treatment with empagliflozin 10 mg once daily or placebo. Clinic BP was measured at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12; 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring was performed at baseline and week 12; and morning home BP was determined for 5 days before each visit. The primary efficacy end point was change from baseline in nighttime BP (ambulatory BP monitoring).

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-two nonobese, older patients with well-controlled blood glucose were randomized (mean age 70 years, mean body mass index 26 kg/m2). Empagliflozin, but not placebo, significantly reduced nighttime systolic BP versus baseline (-6.3 mm Hg; P=0.004); between-group difference in change from baseline was -4.3 mm Hg (P=0.159). Reductions in daytime, 24-hour, morning home, and clinic systolic BP at 12 weeks with empagliflozin were significantly greater than with placebo (-9.5, -7.7, -7.5, and -8.6 mm Hg, respectively; all P≤0.002). Between-group differences in body weight and glycosylated hemoglobin reductions were significant, but small (-1.3 kg and -0.33%; both P<0.001). At 4 weeks, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels were reduced to a greater extent in the empagliflozin versus placebo group (-12.1%; P=0.013); atrial natriuretic peptide levels decreased with empagliflozin versus placebo at weeks 4 and 12 (-8.2% [P=0.008] and -9.7% [P=0.019]). Changes in antihypertensive medication during the study did not differ significantly between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonseverely obese older diabetes patients with uncontrolled nocturnal hypertension showed significant BP reductions without marked reductions in glucose with the addition of empagliflozin to existing antihypertensive and antidiabetic therapy. Use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in specific groups (eg, those with nocturnal hypertension, diabetes, and high salt sensitivity) could help reduce the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular mortality.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov. Unique identifier: NCT03050229.

[Blood pressure targets in patients with diabetes mellitus : What are optimum values?]

Diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension are the most prevalent diseases in the aging population. Both are important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular complications and are associated with a high mortality. Both diseases are often first recognized late. The prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus is favorably influenced by an optimal adjustment of blood sugar and blood pressure, as confirmed in large randomized clinical trials. Patients with diabetes mellitus and a blood pressure >130/80 mm Hg should first receive life style counseling with respect to nutrition and activity. Drug treatment for reduction of blood pressure is recommended for a blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg.

2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: The Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Hypertension: The Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Hypertension

: Document reviewers: Guy De Backer (ESC Review Co-ordinator) (Belgium), Anthony M. Heagerty (ESH Review Co-ordinator) (UK), Stefan Agewall (Norway), Murielle Bochud (Switzerland), Claudio Borghi (Italy), Pierre Boutouyrie (France), Jana Brguljan (Slovenia), Héctor Bueno (Spain), Enrico G. Caiani (Italy), Bo Carlberg (Sweden), Neil Chapman (UK), Renata Cifkova (Czech Republic), John G. F. Cleland (UK), Jean-Philippe Collet (France), Ioan Mircea Coman (Romania), Peter W. de Leeuw (The Netherlands), Victoria Delgado (The Netherlands), Paul Dendale (Belgium), Hans-Christoph Diener (Germany), Maria Dorobantu (Romania), Robert Fagard (Belgium), Csaba Farsang (Hungary), Marc Ferrini (France), Ian M. Graham (Ireland), Guido Grassi (Italy), Hermann Haller (Germany), F. D. Richard Hobbs (UK), Bojan Jelakovic (Croatia), Catriona Jennings (UK), Hugo A. Katus (Germany), Abraham A. Kroon (The Netherlands), Christophe Leclercq (France), Dragan Lovic (Serbia), Empar Lurbe (Spain), Athanasios J. Manolis (Greece), Theresa A. McDonagh (UK), Franz Messerli (Switzerland), Maria Lorenza Muiesan (Italy), Uwe Nixdorff (Germany), Michael Hecht Olsen (Denmark), Gianfranco Parati (Italy), Joep Perk (Sweden), Massimo Francesco Piepoli (Italy), Jorge Polonia (Portugal), Piotr Ponikowski (Poland), Dimitrios J. Richter (Greece), Stefano F. Rimoldi (Switzerland), Marco Roffi (Switzerland), Naveed Sattar (UK), Petar M. Seferovic (Serbia), Iain A. Simpson (UK), Miguel Sousa-Uva (Portugal), Alice V. Stanton (Ireland), Philippe van de Borne (Belgium), Panos Vardas (Greece), Massimo Volpe (Italy), Sven Wassmann (Germany), Stephan Windecker (Switzerland), Jose Luis Zamorano (Spain).The disclosure forms of all experts involved in the development of these Guidelines are available on the ESC website www.escardio.org/guidelines.

Different Relevance of Peripheral, Central or Nighttime Blood Pressure Measurements in the Prediction of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Patients with Mild or No-Proteinuria

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Arterial hypertension is one of the leading factors aggravating the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It seems that the novel parameters used in the assessment of the blood pressure (BP) load (i.e. central blood pressure, nighttime blood pressure) may be more precise in predicting the cardiovascular risk and the progression of CKD in comparison with the traditional peripheral blood pressure measurements in the office conditions. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the central, or nighttime blood pressure on the progression of CKD in patients with mild or no-proteinuria (autosomal, dominant polycystic kidney disease or IgA nephropathy).

METHODS

In each of the enrolled 46 patients with CKD stage 3 or 4, serum creatinine concentration was assessed, eGFR (MDRD) was calculated, also central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity (PWV) was assessed and the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was conducted at the beginning of the study and then repeated after one-year observation period.

RESULTS

During the observation period mean eGFR decreased from 44.1 (33.2-50.6) mL/min to 36.7 (29.7-46.3) mL/min. No significant differences were observed in the peripheral blood pressure or central blood pressure parameters. After one-year observation period the values of diastolic blood pressure dipping during the night significantly decreased from 16 (13-19) mmHg to 12 (10-15) mmHg; p< 0.05. The values of systolic dipping during the night or the mean BP values recorded in ABPM did not change significantly. Additionally, no significant differences in the PWV values were found. In the multivariate regression model the change of serum creatinine concentration was explained by the initial diastolic dipping values.

CONCLUSION

1. In patients with CKD stages 3 or 4 and mild or no- proteinuria, peripheral and central blood pressure did not change significantly during a one-year observation period despite the significant decline of eGFR and seems not to participate in the CKD progression. 2. Reduced magnitude of the diastolic dipping, which reflects the increase of diastolic blood pressure load during the nighttime, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of deterioration of kidney function in these patients.

Masked Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension in Children and Young Adults

Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) is characterized by normal daytime blood pressure (BP) and elevated nighttime BP diagnosed by ambulatory BP monitoring. Masked isolated nocturnal hypertension (MINH) is a subtype of INH in which office BP is normal. We studied the frequency and characteristics of INH and MINH in children and young adults. One hundred and ninety-eight subjects seen by the pediatric nephrology service were studied retrospectively. Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) and MINH were diagnosed according to daytime and nighttime ABP and office BP in the case of the latter. One hundred and eighteen subjects (60%) had normotension, 6 (3%) had isolated daytime hypertension, 32 (16%) had INH, and 42 (21%) had day-night hypertension. Sixteen subjects had MINH (8.1%). The underlying diseases of MINH were as follows: no underlying disease 9 (56%), renal disease 6 (38%), and endocrine disease 1 (6%). There was no significant difference in the underlying disease, gender, age, and BMI between MINH and INH with elevated office BP. In conclusion, MINH is present in children and young adults. Since there were no specific features for MINH, screening with ambulatory or home BP monitoring during sleep may be appropriate.

Is night-time hypertension worse than daytime hypertension? A study on cardiac damage in a general population: the PAMELA study

AIM

Scanty information is available about the association of isolated daytime hypertension (IDH) and isolated night-time hypertension (INH) with subclinical cardiac damage in the general population. We examined this issue in patients enrolled in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni study.

METHODS

The analysis included 2021 participants with valid ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring at baseline evaluation. IDH and INH were defined according to current guidelines. Subclinical organ damage was assessed by validated electrocardiographic and echocardiographic criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 1258 patients (62.3%) had daytime/night-time normotension, 376 (18.6%) daytime/night-time hypertension, 231 (11.4%) INH and 156 (7.7%) IDH, respectively. Participants with hypertension, compared with their normotensive counterparts were older, included a higher fraction of men, had higher BMI, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels and exhibited a greater subclinical cardiac involvement. Furthermore, INH and IDH patients showed a similar degree of cardiac damage (i.e. left ventricular mass index: 89 ± 18 vs 90 ± 20 g/m), intermediate between normotensive (82 ± 19 g/m) and day-night hypertensive patients (99 ± 24 g/m).

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that IDH and INH exert similar detrimental effects on cardiac structure. In a practical perspective, appropriate antihypertensive chrono-therapeutic approaches in these opposite ambulatory hypertensive subtypes may have important implications in cardiovascular prevention.

Aortic pulse wave velocity predicts incident cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes treated in primary care

AIMS

The aim was to evaluate the predictive value of aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) on incident cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes without previous cardiovascular disease who were treated in primary care, after adjustment for traditional risk factors.

METHODS

We measured aPWV in 627 patients who participated in the epidemiological study CARDIPP (Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes-a Prospective Study in Primary Care; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01049737) and who did not have previously known myocardial infarction or stroke. The outcome variable was a composite endpoint consisting of cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization for myocardial infarction and hospitalization for stroke.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up time of almost eight years, the unadjusted HR per each increment of aPWV by 1m/s was 1.239 (95% CI 1.114-1.379, P<0.001) for the primary endpoint. Following adjustments for age, sex, diabetes duration, office systolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, total cholesterol, HbA1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate and smoking status, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.142 (95% CI 1.003-1.301, P=0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

In primary preventive patients with type 2 diabetes treated in primary care, aPWV predicted a composite outcome of incident cardiovascular events independently of diabetes-specific and traditional risk factors.

Diastolic orthostatic hypertension and cardiovascular prognosis in type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In patients with type 2 diabetes, the prognostic impact of an orthostatic rise in blood pressure is not known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prognostic implications of the diastolic orthostatic blood pressure response in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes. We also evaluated associations between different orthostatic blood pressure responses and markers of subclinical cardiovascular organ damage.

METHODS

Office blood pressures were measured in the sitting and in the standing position in 749 patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the CARDIPP study (Cardiovascular Risk factors in Patients with Diabetes-a Prospective study in Primary care). Diastolic orthostatic hypertension was defined as a rise of diastolic blood pressure ≥10 mmHg and diastolic orthostatic hypotension was defined as a drop of diastolic blood pressure ≥10 mmHg. Recruitment took place between the years 2005-2008, and patients were followed until any of the primary outcome events (cardiovascular death or hospitalization for either myocardial infarction or stroke) occurred or until December 31st, 2014. Measurements of aortic pulse wave velocity and of carotid intima-media thickness were performed at base-line.

RESULTS

Diastolic orthostatic hypertension was found in 140 patients (18.7 %) and was associated with significantly lower risk of cardiovascular events (crude hazard ratio compared with patients with normal systolic and diastolic orthostatic blood pressure response: 0.450, 95 % C.I. 0.206-0.987, P = 0.046). Diastolic orthostatic hypotension was found in 31 patients (4.1 %) and was associated with higher values for aortic pulse wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness, compared with patients with normal systolic and diastolic orthostatic blood pressure response.

CONCLUSIONS

Diastolic orthostatic hypertension is common in patients with type 2 diabetes, and may be a novel marker for decreased cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Nocturnal Hypertension and Subclinical Cardiac and Carotid Damage: An Updated Review and Meta-Analysis of Echocardiographic Studies

Evidence on the association of nocturnal hypertension (NH) with subclinical cardiac and vascular damage is scanty. The authors performed a meta-analysis to provide comprehensive information on this clinically relevant issue. Full articles providing data on subclinical cardiac and carotid damage as assessed by ultrasonographic methods in patients with NH as compared with patients with nocturnal normotension (NN) were considered. A total of 3657 patients (NH=2083, NN=1574) of both sexes were included in seven studies. Left ventricular mass index was higher in individuals with NH than in those with NN (112±4.7 g/m(2) vs 98±4.8 g/m(2) ; standard mean difference [SMD], 0.54±0.16; confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.85; P<.01). Similarly, common carotid intima-media thickness was greater in patients with NH than in those with NN (751±34 μm vs 653±14 μm; SMD, 0.44±0.08; CI, 0.29-0.59; P<.01). The present meta-analysis shows an association between NH pattern and increased likelihood of cardiac and carotid structural alterations.

Masked Hypertension and Elevated Nighttime Blood Pressure in CKD: Prevalence and Association with Target Organ Damage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Masked hypertension and elevated nighttime BP are associated with increased risk of hypertensive target organ damage and adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with normal kidney function. The significance of masked hypertension for these risks in patients with CKD is less well defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between masked hypertension and kidney function and markers of cardiovascular target organ damage, and to determine whether this relationship was consistent among those with and without elevated nighttime BP.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

This was a cross-sectional study. We performed 24-hour ambulatory BP in 1492 men and women with CKD enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study. We categorized participants into controlled BP, white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension on the basis of clinic and 24-hour ambulatory BP. We obtained echocardiograms and measured pulse wave velocity in 1278 and 1394 participants, respectively.

RESULTS

The percentages of participants with controlled BP, white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension were 49.3%, 4.1%, 27.8%, and 18.8%, respectively. Compared with controlled BP, masked hypertension independently associated with low eGFR (-3.2 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); 95% confidence interval, -5.5 to -0.9), higher proteinuria (+0.9 unit higher in log2 urine protein; 95% confidence interval, 0.7 to 1.1), and higher left ventricular mass index (+2.52 g/m(2.7); 95% confidence interval, 0.9 to 4.1), and pulse wave velocity (+0.92 m/s; 95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 1.3). Participants with masked hypertension had lower eGFR only in the presence of elevated nighttime BP (-3.6 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); 95% confidence interval, -6.1 to -1.1; versus -1.4 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); 95% confidence interval, -6.9 to 4.0, among those with nighttime BP <120/70 mmHg; P value for interaction with nighttime systolic BP 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Masked hypertension is common in patients with CKD and associated with lower eGFR, proteinuria, and cardiovascular target organ damage. In patients with CKD, ambulatory BP characterizes the relationship between BP and target organ damage better than BP measured in the clinic alone.

Nighttime Blood Pressure Patterns and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective.

To compare 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) values and patterns in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with those of a matched control group and their relationship with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods.

ABPM was assessed in 70 women with SLE and in 65 sex- and age-matched controls without a history of clinic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a predictor of future CVD, was measured. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to determine which explanatory variables were independently associated with the non-dipper pattern and the presence of nocturnal hypertension (HTN) in women with SLE.

Results.

No differences in PWV were found between patients and controls [median 7.3, interquartile range (IQR) 6.5–8.1 m/s vs median 7.1, IQR 6.5–7.8 m/s, p = 0.474]. The frequency of nondipper pattern (p = 0.025) and nocturnal HTN (p = 0.004) was significantly higher in women with SLE than in controls. White-coat and masked HTN were present in 10% and 11% of patients and in 20% and 8% of controls, respectively (p > 0.05 in all cases). The concordance between office and ambulatory HTN in the SLE and control groups was modest (κ = 0.325 and κ = 0.451, respectively). PWV and chronic kidney disease, and PWV and the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index were found to be independently associated with nocturnal HTN and nondipper pattern, respectively.

Conclusion.

Women with SLE were more likely to have an altered nighttime BP pattern than controls. In women with SLE, nondipper pattern and nocturnal HTN were independently associated with increased subclinical atherosclerosis measured by PWV.

Combined effects of FTO rs9939609 and MC4R rs17782313 on elevated nocturnal blood pressure in the Chinese Han population

AIM

In this study we investigated the association of FTO rs9939609 and MC4R rs17782313 with elevated blood pressure in the Chinese Han population, and analysed the relationship between the rs9939609 and rs17782313 variants.

METHODS

We tested the rs9939609 and rs17782313 variants with the sequence-retrieval method.

RESULTS

The increase in odds ratios of the A allele of rs9939609 and the C allele of rs17782313 for nocturnal blood pressure were 1.37 and 1.69. The nocturnal blood pressure of participants simultaneously carrying the A and C alleles was significantly higher than the blood pressure of those carrying neither FTO nor MC4R risk alleles (p < 0.05), and that of the controls carrying only the A or C alleles (p < 0.05). No association between the FTO or MC4R genes with daytime hypertension was found in this Chinese population (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the rs9939609 and rs17782313 variants may be significantly associated with nocturnal but not daytime blood pressure levels and their combined effects were significant in this Chinese Han population.