Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage and Long-term Cardiovascular Outcomes in Asian Hypertensive Patients without Prior Cardiovascular Disease

Cumulative blood pressure load and hypertensive nephropathy in Han Chinese hypertensive patients

The study aims to assess the relationship between cumulative blood pressure load (cBPL) and the risk of renal function decline in hypertensive patients and determine the blood pressure (BP) threshold required to prevent hypertensive nephropathy. A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted on hypertensive patients. The cBPL was defined as the proportion of area beyond variable BP cutoffs under ambulatory BP monitoring. Renal events were defined as > 25% (minor) or > 50% (major) decline of baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Cox regression analysis was conducted between cBPL, other ambulatory BP parameters, and renal events. The results revealed a total of 436 Han Chinese hypertensive patients were eligible for enrollment. During an average follow-up period of 5.1 ± 3.3 years, a decline of > 25% and > 50% in eGFR was observed in 77 and eight participants, respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed that cSBPL140 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.102; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017-1.193; p = .017), cSBPL130 (HR, 1.076; 95% CI, 1.019-1.137; p = .008), and cSBPL120 (HR, 1.054; 95% CI, 1.010-1.099; p = .015) were independently associated with minor renal events. Similarly, cSBPL140 (HR, 1.228; 95% CI, 1.037-1.455; p = .017), cSBPL130 (HR, 1.189; 95% CI, 1.045-1.354; p = .009), and cSBPL120 (HR, 1.155; 95% CI, 1.039-1.285; p = .008) were independently associated with major renal events. In conclusion, cBPL is associated with renal function decline in hypertensive patients. Minimizing cBPL120 may decrease the risk of hypertensive nephropathy.

Gender Difference of Blood Pressure Control Rate and Clinical Prognosis in Patients With Resistant Hypertension: Real-World Observation Study

BACKGROUND

There are several differences in the clinical course of hypertension due to the biological and social differences between men and women. Resistant hypertension is an advanced disease state, and significant gender difference could be expected, but much has not been revealed yet. The purpose of this study was to compare gender differences on the current status of blood pressure (BP) control and clinical prognosis in patients with resistant hypertension.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using common data model databases of 3 tertiary hospitals in Korea. Total 4,926 patients with resistant hypertension were selected from January 2017 to December 2018. Occurrence of dialysis, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, myocardial infarction, stroke, dementia or all-cause mortality was followed up for 3 years.

RESULTS

Male patients with resistant hypertension were younger but had a higher cardiovascular risk than female patients. Prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and proteinuria was higher in men than in women. On-treatment diastolic BP was lower in women than in men and target BP achievement rate was higher in women than in men. During 3 years, the incidence of dialysis and myocardial infarction was higher in men, and the incidence of stroke and dementia was higher in women. After adjustment, male sex was an independent risk factor for HF hospitalization, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death.

CONCLUSION

In resistant hypertension, men were younger than women, but end-organ damage was more common and the risk of cardiovascular event was higher. More intensive cardiovascular prevention strategies may be required in male patients with resistant hypertension.

Prevalence and Characterisation of Severe Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Diagnosed by Echocardiography in Hypertensive Patients

BACKGROUND

Arterial hypertension (AHT) is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the most important prognostic markers in hypertension and a predictor for mortality. The goals of this study were to examine the prevalence of LVH detected by echocardiography in patients with AHT and to describe patients with severe LVH.

METHODS

This is a retrospective monocentric study including patients treated at a tertiary hypertension clinic. Echocardiographic data were taken from written reports from our hospital's echocardiography laboratories. We compared patients with severe LVH (septum thickness ≥ 15 mm) with patients with normal left ventricular (LV) geometry and with patients with concentric or eccentric hypertrophy regarding age, gender, comorbidities, medication, duration of hypertension, blood pressure (BP) and ECG changes at time of echocardiography.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients (7.3%) out of four hundred patients showed severe LVH and one hundred and eighty-nine (47.3%) a normal geometry. In comparison to patients with normal geometry, patients with severe LVH were more likely to be male, older, and with more uncontrolled BP, especially regarding asleep values, multi-drug antihypertensive treatment and comorbidities. In comparison to patients with concentric or eccentric hypertrophy, patients with severe LVH had a significantly higher diastolic BP in the 24 h mean, awake and asleep values. A positive Sokolow-Lyon index did not predict LVH. However, patients with severe LVH were more likely to have T-wave-inversions V4-V6 in at least one lead.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of the patients with AHT have an abnormal geometry in our study (52.5%) and 7.3% a severe LVH. Patients with severe LVH have more often an uncontrolled AHT than patients with a normal LV geometry, despite more antihypertensive treatment. The Sokolow-Lyon index seems to be insufficient to detect LVH.

RSSDI Guidelines for the management of hypertension in patients with diabetes mellitus

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two of the leading lifestyle diseases in the Indian and South Asian populations that often co-exist due to overlapping pathophysiological factors. Obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress are thought to be some common pathways. Up to 50% of hypertensive cases in India are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which defines the need for a comprehensive guideline for managing hypertension in diabetic patients. These RSSDI guidelines have been formulated based on consultation with expert endocrinologists in India and Southeast Asia, acknowledging the needs of the Indian population. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and office and home-based blood pressure (BP) monitoring are recommended for the early analysis of risks. Cardiovascular risks, end-organ damage, and renal disorders are the primary complications associated with diabetic hypertension that needs to be managed with the help of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions. The non-pharmacological interventions include the nutrition education of the patient to reduce the intake of salt, sodium, and trans fats and increase the consumption of nuts, fresh fruits, vegetables, and potassium-rich foods. It is also recommended to initiate 50 to 60 min of exercise three to four times a week since physical activity has shown to be more beneficial for hypertension control in Indian patients than dietary modulation. For the pharmacological management of hypertension in patients with T2DM, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are recommended as the first line of therapy, demonstrating their superiority over other antihypertensive agents such as ACEi. However, most of the global hypertension guidelines recommend initiation with combination therapy to achieve better BP control in most patients and to reduce the risk of adverse events. For combination therapy, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are recommended to be administered along with ARBs instead of beta-blockers or diuretics to avoid the risk of cardiovascular events and hyperglycaemia. Among the CCBs, novel molecules (e.g. cilnidipine) are recommended in combination with ARBs for better cardiovascular and reno-protection in diabetic hypertensive patients.

Impact of underweight on 3-year all-cause mortality in patients with acute severe hypertension: a retrospective cohort study

Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure body fat. We investigated the association between BMI and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute severe hypertension who visited the emergency department (ED). Cross-sectional study data were obtained from a single regional emergency medical center, including patients with elevated initial systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg. The patients were classified into five groups according to BMI level (underweight, normal, overweight, obese class I, II and III). Among 4867 patients who presented with acute severe hypertension at the ED, 935 (19.21%) died within 3-years. In particular, 140 (44.59%) patients in the underweight group died from any cause, which was the highest among the five groups, and there was a reverse J-shaped association between BMI and 3-year all-cause mortality. Underweight patients had a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality by 1.55-fold during the 3-year follow-up. Rather, obesity was associated with a reduction in the 3-year all-cause mortality. Comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease and acute hypertension-mediated organ damage, were independent predictors of all-cause mortality in patients who were not underweight. Underweight contributes to worsening long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute severe hypertension. Clinicians should consider BMI as one of the physical examination parameters in patients with acute severe hypertension, and management including lifestyle modifications such as diet control and exercise should be undertaken considering BMI and comorbidities.

Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage: Prevalence, Correlates, and Prognosis in the Community

BACKGROUND

Guidelines emphasize screening people with elevated BP for the presence of end-organ damage.

METHODS

We characterized the prevalence, correlates, and prognosis of hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) in the community-based Framingham Study. 7898 participants (mean age 51.6 years, 54% women) underwent assessment for the following HMOD: electrocardiographic and echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal brain imaging findings consistent with vascular injury, increased carotid intima-media thickness, elevated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, reduced kidney function, microalbuminuria, and low ankle-brachial index. We characterized HMOD prevalence according to blood pressure (BP) categories defined by four international BP guidelines. Participants were followed up for incidence of cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HMOD varied positively with systolic BP and pulse pressure but negatively with diastolic BP; it increased with age, was similar in both sexes, and varied across BP guidelines based on their thresholds defining hypertension. Among participants with hypertension, elevated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was the most prevalent HMOD (40%-60%), whereas low ankle-brachial index was the least prevalent (<5%). Left ventricular hypertrophy, reduced kidney function, microalbuminuria, increased carotid intima-media thickness, and abnormal brain imaging findings had an intermediate prevalence (20%-40%). HMOD frequently clustered within individuals. On follow-up (median, 14.1 years), there were 384 cardiovascular disease events among 5865 participants with concurrent assessment of left ventricular mass, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, kidney function, and microalbuminuria. For every BP category above optimal (referent group), the presence of HMOD increased cardiovascular disease risk compared with its absence.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of HMOD varies across international BP guidelines based on their different thresholds for defining hypertension. The presence of HMOD confers incremental prognostic information regarding cardiovascular disease risk at every BP category.

Clinical Characteristics and Predictors of All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Hypertensive Urgency at an Emergency Department

Hypertensive urgency is characterized by an acute increase in blood pressure without acute target organ damage, which is considered to be managed with close outpatient follow-up. However, limited data are available on the prognosis of these cases in emergency departments. We investigated the characteristics and predictors of all-cause mortality in Korean emergency patients with hypertensive urgency. This cross-sectional study included patients aged ≥18 years who visited an emergency tertiary referral center between January 2016 and December 2019 for hypertensive urgency, which was defined as a systolic blood pressure of ≥180 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of ≥110 mmHg, or both, without acute target organ damage. The 1 and 3 year all-cause mortality rates were 6.8% and 12.1%, respectively. The incidence of emergency department revisits and readmission after 3 months and 1 year was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. In a multivariate analysis, age ≥ 60 years (hazard ratio (HR), 16.66; 95% CI, 6.20-44.80; p < 0.001), male sex (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.22-1.94; p < 0.001), history of chronic kidney disease (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.53-3.09; p < 0.001), and proteinuria (HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.53-2.48; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of 3 year all-cause mortality. The all-cause mortality rate of hypertensive urgency remains high despite the increased utilization of antihypertensive medications. Old age, male sex, history of chronic kidney disease, and proteinuria were poor prognostic factors for all-cause mortality in patients with hypertensive urgency.