Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Adherence Monitoring: Diagnosing Pseudoresistant Hypertension

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy performed by a general surgeon on functioning adrenal tumors: Treatment outcomes and risk prediction of persistent hypertension

Background

Functional adrenal tumors may contribute to poor hypertension control and electrolyte abnormalities, thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular mortality. Currently, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is an effective surgical option that contributes to improved treatment outcomes as compared to open surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy performed by a general surgeon at a low-volume center and to identify clinicopathological risk factors for postoperative persistent hypertension.

Methods

A retrospective study of patients with functional adrenal tumors who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy at Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand, between 2014 and 2022. Clinicopathologic and postoperative data were examined.

Results

This study included twenty-five patients; the indications for laparoscopic adrenalectomy included primary aldosteronism in 19 (76%), pheochromocytoma in 4 (16%), and Cushing's syndrome in 2 (8%). The average time of surgery was 103.5 ± 19.7 min, and intraoperative complications occurred in three patients (12%), with one patient requiring conversion to open surgery (4%). The postoperative systolic (125 ± 15 vs. 158 ± 18 mmHg; p < 0.001) and diastolic (78.5 ± 6.7 vs. 95.3 ± 10 mmHg; p = 0.013) blood pressure significantly decreased compared to prior surgery, but only 19 patients (76%) achieved a cure for hypertension. Multivariate analysis revealed that the patient's physical status, as classified by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (odds ratio (OR) = 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-1.32, p = 0.001), and the need for at least three antihypertensive medicines (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.36-1.2, p = 0.002), were independent predictive factors of persistent hypertension after surgery.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and effective surgical treatment for functional adrenal tumors, even when performed in a low-volume center. According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical categorization, the patient's physical condition and the necessity for at least three antihypertensive medications are predictors of postoperative hypertension.

Trial registration

The study was registered with the Thai Clinical Registry Trials: TCTR20230707007.

Identifying and treating resistant hypertension in PRECISION: A randomized long-term clinical trial with aprocitentan

The design and baseline data of the PRECISION study, which evaluates the effect of the dual endothelin receptor antagonist aprocitentan on blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant hypertension (RHT) are presented. The study is a blinded, randomized, parallel-group Phase 3 study and its three-part design assesses the short-term and sustained long-term effects of aprocitentan on BP. Results are expected in 2022. Patients with uncontrolled BP (measured as unattended automated office BP) despite the use of three or more antihypertensive medications for at least 1 year were screened. They were switched to a single-tablet triple fixed combination antihypertensive therapy for at least 4 weeks before entering a single-blind placebo run-in period. The 4-week placebo run-in period further excluded placebo responders. The randomization period consisted of three sequential parts: (1) a 4-week double-blind part with aprocitentan 12.5 mg, 25 mg, or placebo (1:1:1 ratio); (2) a 32-week single-blind part with aprocitentan 25 mg; and (3) a 12-week randomized withdrawal part with aprocitentan 25 mg or placebo (1:1 ratio). The purpose was to demonstrate the BP lowering effect of aprocitentan in RHT (Part 1) and the persistence of this effect (Parts 2 and 3). Out of 1965 screened patients, 730 were randomized resulting in an overall inclusion failure rate of 62.8%. The most common reason for exclusion (44.4% of all screened patients) was failure to meet the BP inclusion criteria. These results underline the high proportion of pseudoresistant hypertension among patients referred for RHT.

A Critical Review of Medication Adherence in Hypertension: Barriers and Facilitators Clinicians Should Consider

Hypertension is a global public health problem, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Impacting all human societies and socioeconomic strata, it remains the major modifiable risk factor for global burden of cardiovascular disease all-cause mortality and the leading cause of loss of disability-adjusted life years. Despite increased awareness, the rate of blood pressure control remains unsatisfactory, particularly in low- to middle-income countries. Apparent treatment-resistant hypertension is associated with worse adverse health outcomes. It includes both true resistant and pseudo-resistant hypertension, which requires out-of-office blood pressure monitoring to exclude white-coat effect and confirmation of adherence to the agreed recommended antihypertensive therapy. The depth of medication non-adherence remains poorly recognized among medical practitioners, thus presenting an underestimated modifiable risk factor. Medication non-adherence is a complex and multidimensional variable with three quantifiable phases: initiation, implementation, and discontinuation, collectively called persistence. Non-adherence can be both intentional and non-intentional and usually involves several interconnected factors. Persistence declines over time in the treatment of chronic diseases like hypertension. The risk is higher in patients with new diagnosis, poor insurance status, polypharmacy, and multiple comorbidities, particularly psychiatric disorders. The World Health Organization divides the contributing factors impacting adherence into five categories. Screening and detection for medication non-adherence are challenging due to its dynamic nature and potential white-coat effect. Easy-to-conduct screening methods have low reliability and validity, whereas more reliable and valid methods are costly and difficult to perform. Medication non-adherence is associated with poor clinical outcome and potential negative impact on health-care costs. Evaluation of adherence should become an integral part of assessment of patients treated for hypertension. Medication adherence can significantly improve with a patient-centered approach, non-judgmental communication skills, and collaborative multidisciplinary management, including engagement of the patients in their care by self-blood pressure monitoring.

Adherence in Hypertension

The global epidemic of hypertension is largely uncontrolled and hypertension remains the leading cause of noncommunicable disease deaths worldwide. Suboptimal adherence, which includes failure to initiate pharmacotherapy, to take medications as often as prescribed, and to persist on therapy long-term, is a well-recognized factor contributing to the poor control of blood pressure in hypertension. Several categories of factors including demographic, socioeconomic, concomitant medical-behavioral conditions, therapy-related, healthcare team and system-related factors, and patient factors are associated with nonadherence. Understanding the categories of factors contributing to nonadherence is useful in managing nonadherence. In patients at high risk for major adverse cardiovascular outcomes, electronic and biochemical monitoring are useful for detecting nonadherence and for improving adherence. Increasing the availability and affordability of these more precise measures of adherence represent a future opportunity to realize more of the proven benefits of evidence-based medications. In the absence of new antihypertensive drugs, it is important that healthcare providers focus their attention on how to do better with the drugs they have. This is the reason why recent guidelines have emphasize the important need to address drug adherence as a major issue in hypertension management.

Resistant Hypertension: Detection, Evaluation, and Management: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Resistant hypertension (RH) is defined as above-goal elevated blood pressure (BP) in a patient despite the concurrent use of 3 antihypertensive drug classes, commonly including a long-acting calcium channel blocker, a blocker of the renin-angiotensin system (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker), and a diuretic. The antihypertensive drugs should be administered at maximum or maximally tolerated daily doses. RH also includes patients whose BP achieves target values on ≥4 antihypertensive medications. The diagnosis of RH requires assurance of antihypertensive medication adherence and exclusion of the "white-coat effect" (office BP above goal but out-of-office BP at or below target). The importance of RH is underscored by the associated risk of adverse outcomes compared with non-RH. This article is an updated American Heart Association scientific statement on the detection, evaluation, and management of RH. Once antihypertensive medication adherence is confirmed and out-of-office BP recordings exclude a white-coat effect, evaluation includes identification of contributing lifestyle issues, detection of drugs interfering with antihypertensive medication effectiveness, screening for secondary hypertension, and assessment of target organ damage. Management of RH includes maximization of lifestyle interventions, use of long-acting thiazide-like diuretics (chlorthalidone or indapamide), addition of a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (spironolactone or eplerenone), and, if BP remains elevated, stepwise addition of antihypertensive drugs with complementary mechanisms of action to lower BP. If BP remains uncontrolled, referral to a hypertension specialist is advised.

Integrating Out-of-Office Blood Pressure in the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension

Guidelines for the diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension were historically based on in-office blood pressure measurements. However, the US Preventive Services Task Force recently expanded their recommendations on screening for hypertension to include out-of-office blood pressure measurements to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension. Out-of-office blood pressure monitoring modalities, including ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and home blood pressure monitoring, are important tools in distinguishing between normotension, masked hypertension, white-coat hypertension, and sustained (including uncontrolled or drug-resistant) hypertension. Compared to in-office readings, out-of-office blood pressures are a greater predictor of renal and cardiac morbidity and mortality. There are multiple barriers to the implementation of out-of-office blood pressure monitoring which need to be overcome in order to promote more widespread use of these modalities.

Rationale and design of the Medication adherence Improvement Support App For Engagement-Blood Pressure (MedISAFE-BP) trial

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a major contributor to the health and economic burden imposed by stroke, heart disease, and renal insufficiency. Antihypertensives can prevent many of the harmful effects of elevated blood pressure, but medication nonadherence is a known barrier to the effectiveness of these treatments. Smartphone-based applications that remind patients to take their medications, provide education, and allow for social interactions between individuals with similar health concerns have been widely advocated as a strategy to improve adherence but have not been subject to rigorous testing.

METHODS/DESIGN

The MedISAFE-BP study is a prospective, randomized control trial designed to evaluate the impact on blood pressure and medication adherence of an mhealth application (Medisafe). Four hundred thirteen patients with uncontrolled hypertension have been enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 fashion to usual care or to the use of the Medisafe mhealth platform. Patients will be followed up for 12 weeks and the trial's co-primary outcomes will be change in systolic blood pressure and self-reported medication adherence.

DISCUSSION

The MedISAFE-BP trial is the first study to rigorously evaluate an mhealth application's effect on blood pressure and medication adherence. The results will inform the potential effectiveness of this simple system in improving cardiovascular disease risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Interventional therapy for hypertension: Back on track again?

Treatment-resistant hypertension, or resistant hypertension, is defined as blood pressure that remains above target despite concurrent use of at least three antihypertensive agents from different classes at optimal doses, one of which should be a diuretic. Important considerations in the diagnosis of treatment-resistant hypertension include the exclusion of pseudoresistance and the evaluation of potential secondary causes of hypertension and of concomitant conditions that maintain high blood pressure. The ability to diagnose true treatment-resistant hypertension is important for selection of patients who may be appropriately treated with an invasive therapy. Currently, there are three interventional approaches to treat resistant hypertension, namely: (1) reduction of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system by renal nerve ablation, (2) stimulation of baroreceptors and (3) creation of a peripheral arterial venous anastomosis. This review focuses on the rationale behind these invasive approaches and the clinical results.

Increased Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity portends an increased risk of resistant hypertension

BACKGROUND

To investigate the relationship between plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity and incidence of resistant hypertension (RH).

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional research. In essential, it was an observational design and collecting data on a population at a single point in time to evaluate the associations of studied variables. Totally 208 patients with arterial hypertension were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were collected and fasting venous blood were drawn for plasma Lp-PLA2 activity assessment. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure ambulatory (ABPM) was performed to diagnose RH. Initially, based on ABPM examination, all participants were divided into two groups, namely RH group and without RH group. And thereafter, in order to evaluate the effects of Lp-PLA2 activity on blood pressure, all participants were divided into low (< 225 nm/min/ml) and high (≥ 225 nm/min/ml) Lp-PLA2 activity groups based on the cut-off value of Lp-PLA2 activity. Comparisons were conducted between groups.

RESULTS

Forty two patients were diagnosed as RH. Compared to patients without RH, patients with RH were more elderly, had more males, smokers, longer duration of hypertension, higher plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) level and Lp-PLA2 activity (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). More RH patients treated with calcium channel blocker and diuretic, while less treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker and statins (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Compared to low Lp-PLA2 group, the rate of RH was significantly higher in high Lp-PLA2 group (26.7 % versus 6.1 %, P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that after adjusted for age, gender, smoking, body mass index, hypertension duration, CRP, and anti-hypertensive drugs, association between Lp-PLA2 activity and RH remained significant, with odds ratio (OD) of 2.02 (95 % confidence interval, CI 1.85-2.06, P < 0.05). Nonetheless, the association was attenuated when further adjusted for statins, with OR of 1.81 (95 % CI 1.74-1.93, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Increased plasma Lp-PLA2 activity portends increased risk of RH, and statins may be beneficial to reduce incidence of RH in subjects with increased plasma Lp-PLA2 activity.

Improving Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension: A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In patients with hypertension, medication adherence is often suboptimal, thereby increasing the risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke. In a randomized trial, we investigated the effectiveness of a multifaceted pharmacist intervention in a hospital setting to improve medication adherence in hypertensive patients. Motivational interviewing was a key element of the intervention.

METHODS

Patients (n = 532) were recruited from 3 hospital outpatient clinics and randomized to usual care or a 6-month pharmacist intervention comprising collaborative care, medication review, and tailored adherence counseling including motivational interviewing and telephone follow-ups. The primary outcome was composite medication possession ratio (MPR) to antihypertensive and lipid-lowering agents, at 1-year follow-up, assessed by analyzing pharmacy records. Secondary outcomes at 12 months included persistence to medications, blood pressure, hospital admission, and a combined clinical endpoint of cardiovascular death, stroke, or acute myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

At 12 months, 20.3% of the patients in the intervention group (n = 231) were nonadherent (MPR <0.80), compared with 30.2% in the control group (n = 285) (risk difference -9.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], -17.3, -2.4) and median MPR (interquartile range) was 0.93 (0.82-0.99) and 0.91 (0.76-0.98), respectively, P = .02. The combined clinical endpoint was reached by 1.3% in the intervention group and 3.1% in the control group (relative risk 0.41; 95% CI, 0.11-1.50). No significant differences were found for persistence, blood pressure, or hospital admission.

CONCLUSIONS

A multifaceted pharmacist intervention in a hospital setting led to a sustained improvement in medication adherence for patients with hypertension. The intervention had no significant impact on blood pressure and secondary clinical outcomes.