Prospective evaluation of the effect of statins on blood pressure control in hypertensive patients in clinical practice

Favourable impact of statin use on diastolic blood pressure levels: analysis of a large database of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

INTRODUCTION

Assumption of lipid-lowering drugs, mostly statins, is recommended at bed-time and evidence demonstrated a strong and independent correlation between night-time blood pressure (BP) and increased risk of cardiovascular events.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of statins on night-time BP levels.

METHODS

We analysed data derived from a large cohort of adult individuals, who consecutively underwent home, clinic and ambulatory BP monitoring at our Unit. All BP measurements were performed and BP thresholds were set according to recommendations from European guidelines. Study population was stratified according to statin use.

RESULTS

We included an overall sample of 5634 adult individuals (women 48.9%, age 60.5 ± 11.6 years, BMI 27.0 ± 4.6 kg/m, clinic BP 144.3 ± 18.4/90.9 ± 12.4 mmHg, 24-h BP 130.7 ± 13.4/79.0 ± 9.7 mmHg), among whom 17.3% received and 82.7% did not received statins. Treated outpatients were older, had higher BMI and prevalence of risk factors and comorbidities than those who were untreated (P < 0.001 for all). Patients treated with statins showed lower DBP levels at all BP measurements, including night-time (67.3 ± 9.4 vs. 70.9 ± 9.7 mmHg; P < 0.001) periods, than those observed in untreated patients. Also, statin use resulted an independent factor associated with 24-h [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.513(1.295-1.767); P < 0.001] and night-time [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.357(1.161-1.587); P < 0.001] BP control, even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, diabetes, number of antihypertensive drugs (model 1) or presence/absence of antihypertensive treatment (model 2).

CONCLUSION

Statin use was associated with significantly lower DBP levels. These effects were independently observed, even after correction for cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities, as well as number of antihypertensive drugs.

Prehypertension in rural northeastern China: results from the northeast China rural cardiovascular health study

This study aimed to determine the present status of prehypertension in rural China. It was conducted between January and August 2013, using a multistage clustering method to select a representative sample of individuals (≥35 years old), resulting in a study population of 11,576 adults. Prehypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) in the range of 120 mm Hg to 139 mm Hg and/or a diastolic BP between 80 mm Hg and 89 mm Hg according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). The results showed that the mean±standard deviation systolic and diastolic BP values for the entire population were 141.8±23.5 mm Hg and 82.1±11.8 mm Hg, respectively. Among the whole population, 35.1% of men and 32.5% of women were prehypertensive. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that high body mass index, advanced age, alcohol consumption, diabetes, high triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and elevated diet score were risk factors for prehypertension. This study indicates that there is a high prevalence of prehypertension in rural China and confirms the importance of healthy lifestyles--including the control of obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia--to decrease the incidence of prehypertension.

Rate of control of LDL cholesterol and incident hypertension requiring antihypertensive treatment in hypercholesterolemic subjects in daily clinical practice

INTRODUCTION

Preliminary evidence suggests that hypercholesterolemia is associated to an increased risk to develop hypertension. We aimed at evaluating the association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and incidence of new onset of hypertension in a large population sample.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A population-based cohort of 20,074 subjects with at least one LDL-C measurement between July 2006 and June 2007 and free of antihypertensive treatment (AHT) at baseline was followed from the LDL-C date until death or 31 December 2009.

RESULTS

During the follow-up, 10.7% of patients with LDL-C < 130 mg/dL, 13.2% of patients with LDL-C between 130 and 159 mg/dL, 12.2% of patients with LDL-C between 160 and 189 mg/dL, and 13.9% of patients with LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL had new-onset hypertension requiring the initiation of AHT. Compared with the LDL-C < 130 mg/dL group, the hazard ratio (HR) of initiation of AHT increased among those with LDL-C level between 130 and 159 mg/dL (HR 1.23; 95% CI: 1.08-1.40), those with LDL-C level between 160 and 189 mg/dL (HR 1.24; 95% CI: 1.01-1.51), and those with LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL (HR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.11-1.89).

CONCLUSION

A better control of cholesterolemia seems to be associated to a lower incidence of new-onset of hypertension requiring AHT in a large cohort of general population.

Rosuvastatin-attenuated heart failure in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats via PKCα/β2 signal pathway

There are controversies concerning the capacity of Rosuvastatin to attenuate heart failure in end-stage hypertension. The aim of the study was to show whether the Rosuvastatin might be effective or not for the heart failure treatment. Twenty-one spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) aged 52 weeks with heart failure were randomly divided into three groups: two receiving Rosuvastatin at 20 and 40 mg/kg/day, respectively, and the third, placebo for comparison with seven Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) as controls. After an 8-week treatment, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and echocardiographic features were evaluated; mRNA level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and plasma NT-proBNP concentration were measured; the heart tissues were observed under electron microscope (EM); myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump (SERCA-2) activity and mitochondria cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) activity were measured; the expressions of SERCA-2a, phospholamban (PLB), ryanodine receptor2 (RyR2), sodium–calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 (PPI-1) were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR; and the total and phosphorylation of protein kinase Cα/β (PKCα/β) were measured. Aged SHRs with heart failure was characterized by significantly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening, enhanced left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and LV Volume, accompanied by increased plasma NT-proBNP and elevated BNP gene expression. Damaged myofibrils, vacuolated mitochondria and swollen sarcoplasmic reticulum were observed by EM. Myocardium mitochondria CCO and SERCA-2 activity decreased. The expressions of PLB and NCX1 increased significantly with up-regulation of PPI-1 and down-regulation of CaMKII, whereas that of RyR2 decreased. Rosuvastatin was found to ameliorate the heart failure in aged SHRs and to improve changes in SERCA-2a, PLB, RyR2, NCX1, CaMKII and PPI-1; PKCα/β2 signal pathway to be suppressed; the protective effect of Rosuvastatin to be dose dependent. In conclusion, the heart failure of aged SHRs that was developed during the end stage of hypertension could be ameliorated by Rosuvastatin.

The therapeutic effect of rosuvastatin on cardiac remodelling from hypertrophy to fibrosis during the end-stage hypertension in rats

End-stage hypertensive heart disease is an increasing cause of cardiac mortality. Therefore, the current study focused on the cardiac remodelling from hypertrophy to fibrosis in old-aged spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and explored the therapeutic effects of Rosuvastatin and its possible mechanism(s) of action. Spontaneously hypertensive rats at age 52 weeks were randomly divided into three groups, the first two to receive Rosuvastatin at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day and 40 mg/kg/day, respectively, and the third to receive placebo, which was to be compared with Wistar-Kyoto as controls. After 2-month treatment, SBP, heart to body weight ratio (HW/BW%) and echocardiographic features were evaluated, followed by haematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining in conjunction with qPCR of foetal gene expressions. Transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling assay and immunofluorescent labelling for active caspase-3 were used to detect the apoptotic cardiomyocytes. Signaling pathways involved were examined by using western blot. Old-aged SHR developed end-stage hypertensive heart disease characterized by significant enhancement of HW/BW%, LVAWd and LVPWd, and decreased LVEF and LVFS, accompanied by cardiomyocytes enlargement and fibrosis along with activation of foetal gene programme. Cardiac apoptosis increased significantly during the transition process. Rosuvastatin reduced hypertrophy significantly via AT₁ Receptor-PKCβ2/α-ERK-c-fos pathway; protected myocardium against apoptosis via Akt-FOXO1, Bcl-2 family and survivin pathways and consequently suppressed the caspase-3 activity. The present study revealed that old-aged SHRs developed cardiac remodelling from hypertrophy to fibrosis via cardiac apoptosis during the end stage of hypertensive heart disease. These pathological changes might be the consequence of activation of AT₁ Receptor-PKCβ2/α-ERK-c-fos and AKT-FOXO1/Bcl-2/survivin/Caspase3 signaling. Rosuvastatin effectively attenuated the structural changes by reversing the signaling transductions involved.