Time of blood pressure in target range in acute ischemic stroke

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, European guideline targets, and cardiovascular outcomes: an individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hypertension is the predominant modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. This cohort study assessed the association of risk with the percentage of time that the ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) is within the target range (PTTR) proposed by the 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for blood pressure (BP) management.

METHODS

In a person-level meta-analysis of 14 230 individuals enrolled in 14 population cohorts, systolic and diastolic ABPs were combined to assess 24-h, daytime, and nighttime PTTR with thresholds for non-elevated ABP set at <115/65, <120/70, and <110/60 mmHg, respectively.

RESULTS

Median 24-h PTTR was 18% (interquartile range 5-33) corresponding to 4.3 h (1.2-7.9). Over 10.9 years (median), deaths (N = 3117) and cardiovascular endpoints (N = 2265) decreased across increasing 24-h PTTR quartiles from 21.3 to 16.1 and from 20.3 to 11.3 events per 1000 person-years. The standardized multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for 24-h PTTR were 0.57 (95% confidence interval 0.46-0.71) for mortality and 0.30 (0.23-0.39) for cardiovascular endpoints. Analyses of daytime and nighttime ABP, cardiovascular mortality, coronary endpoints and stroke, and subgroups produced confirmatory results. The 2024 ESC non-elevated 24-h PTTR, compared with the 2018 ESC/European Society of Hypertension non-hypertensive 24-h PTTR, shortened the interval required to reduce relative risk for adverse outcomes from 60% to 18% (14.4-4.3 h). Office BP, compared with 24-h PTTR, misclassified most participants with regard to BP control.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer time that ABP is within the 2024 ESC target range is associated with reduced adverse outcomes; PTTR derived from ABP refines risk prediction and compared with office BP avoids misclassification of individuals with regard to BP control.

Long-Term Time in Target Range for Systolic Blood Pressure Since Childhood and Midlife Arterial Stiffness

Background

Elevated blood pressure (BP) in childhood is associated with adult hypertension and arterial stiffness. However, the effect of long-term time in target range (TTR) for BP since childhood on the risk of arterial stiffness in midlife remains unclear.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the independent association of TTR for systolic blood pressure (SBP) from childhood to midlife with arterial stiffness in adulthood.

Methods

This study used data from the ongoing cohort of the Hanzhong Adolescent Hypertension Study. SBP-TTR was assessed over 36 years, with the target ranges of SBP defined as the 90th to 95th percentile of SBP for age, sex, and height in childhood, and 110 to 130 mm Hg in adulthood. Arterial stiffness was defined as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity >1,400 cm/s.

Results

Of the total 1,959 participants, 55.5% (1,088 of 1,959) were men, and the mean age was 49 years. The risk of arterial stiffness exhibited a gradual decrease with increasing SBP-TTR over the 36-year follow-up. Compared with the participants in the lowest quartile of SBP-TTR from childhood to midlife, those in the highest quartile showed significantly reduced arterial stiffness risk in midlife. This association persisted even after adjusting for mean SBP and SBP variability. Furthermore, men in the highest quartile of SBP-TTR demonstrated a markedly lower arterial stiffness risk than those in the lowest quartile, whereas this effect was not observed in women.

Conclusions

Higher long-term SBP-TTR from childhood to midlife is associated with a reduced risk of arterial stiffness in midlife, regardless of the mean SBP or SBP variability.

Association Between Systolic Blood Pressure Time in Target Range Indices and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes

Background

There is no consensus on optimal time points or systolic blood pressure (SBP) ranges for calculating SBP time in target range (TTR).

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between various SBP TTR metrics and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Methods

This post hoc analysis of SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) included participants with complete SBP records and excluded those with events in the initial 2 years. SBP TTR indices were calculated using 3 distinct time points and 3 SBP ranges. The SBP TTR index was the percentage of BP segments within the target SBP ranges. MACE, a composite of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death, was the primary outcome.

Results

The study included 7,134 participants, of which 280 had a MACE. The median follow-up was 3.91 years. The SBP TTR 110-140 mm Hg in the initial 3 months (3-month TTR 110-140) had the optimal association with incident MACEs (HR per SD increase: 0.898 [95% CI: 0.788-1.022], relative informativeness = 24,398%). Furthermore, a cutoff value of 0.65 for 3-month TTR 110 to 140 index was identified by threshold saturation analysis and used to evaluate early SBP control. No difference in MACE was seen between different mean SBP subgroups in those with good early control (3-month TTR >0.65) (P = 0.88), but in those with poor early control (3-month TTR ≤0.65), a higher mean SBP of 130 to 140 mm Hg was related to increased MACEs risk (P = 0.019).

Conclusions

In nondiabetic hypertensive patients, the 3-month TTR 110 to 140 mm Hg index was independently associated with 2-year MACEs. A cutoff of TTR index as 0.65 indicated that the patient was within BP target range 65% of the time, combined with mean SBP, could potentially be used as a metric for early control stability and late cardiovascular risks. (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial [SPRINT]; NCT01206062).

Blood pressure time at target and its prognostic value for cardiovascular outcomes: a scoping review

The proportion of time that blood pressure (BP) readings are at treatment target levels, commonly referred to as time at target or time in therapeutic range (BP-TTR), is emerging as a useful measure for evaluating hypertension management effectiveness and assessing longitudinal BP control. However, method of determination for BP-TTR differs across studies. This review identifies variations in BP-TTR determination methodologies and its potential prognostic value for cardiovascular outcomes. Following PRISMA extension for scoping reviews guidelines, literature was systematically searched in Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Relevant clinical trials, observational studies, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and systematic reviews published in English were screened. Of 369 articles identified, 17 articles were included. Studies differed in the BP targets used (e.g., BP < 140/90 mmHg or 130/80 mmHg; systolic BP within 110-130 mmHg or 120-140 mmHg), BP-TTR measurement duration (range 24 h to 15 years), and calculation method (linear interpolation method, n = 12 [71%]; proportion of BP readings at target, n = 5 [29%]). Regardless of method, studies consistently demonstrated that higher BP-TTR was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular outcomes. Six of eight studies found the association was independent of mean achieved BP or last measured BP. Despite variation in methods of BP-TTR determination, these studies demonstrated the potential prognostic value of BP-TTR for cardiovascular outcomes beyond current BP control measures. We recommend standardization of BP-TTR methodology, with preference for linear interpolation method when BP measurements are few or less frequent, and proportion of BP readings method when large number of BP readings are available.

Advances in nanomedicines: a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic cerebral stroke treatment

Ischemic stroke, prevalent among the elderly, necessitates attention to reperfusion injury post treatment. Limited drug access to the brain, owing to the blood-brain barrier, restricts clinical applications. Identifying efficient drug carriers capable of penetrating this barrier is crucial. Blood-brain barrier transporters play a vital role in nutrient transport to the brain. Recently, nanoparticles emerged as drug carriers, enhancing drug permeability via surface-modified ligands. This article introduces the blood-brain barrier structure, elucidates reperfusion injury pathogenesis, compiles ischemic stroke treatment drugs, explores nanomaterials for drug encapsulation and emphasizes their advantages over conventional drugs. Utilizing nanoparticles as drug-delivery systems offers targeting and efficiency benefits absent in traditional drugs. The prospects for nanomedicine in stroke treatment are promising.