Current Hypertension Reviews - Volume 15, Issue 2, 2019

Primary prevention of cardiovascular events in older adults is a relevant problem, due to lack of evidence for safe and efficacious therapy, its costs and elderly quality of life, Italy’s aging population is constantly increasing, so cardiovascular disease (CVD) primary prevention in the elderly is a prime objective. Life expectancy has dramatically increased over the last 2 decades, the proportion of individuals aged 80 years and older has grown rapidly in Europe and the United States, but cost / effective ratio of CVD prevention through risk factors control is debated. It is therefore important to implement cardiovascular risk factors estimation in the elderly to maximize the quality of life of patients and to lengthen their healthy life expectancy, choosing the better treatment for each patient sharing the choice with himself when it is possible, always remembering that elderly patients often have multiple co-morbidities that require a high number of concurrent medications; this may increase the risk for drug-drug interactions, thereby reducing the potential benefits of CVD prevention therapy. Nevertheless, CVD is not an inevitable concomitant of aging. Sometimes, autopsy in the elderly reveals atheroma-free coronary arteries, a normal-sized heart and unscarred valves. All primary prevention strategy decisions should consider estimated life expectancy and overall function and not just the cardiovascular event risks, magnitude and time to benefit or harm, potentially altered adverse effect profiles, and informed patient preferences. CVD primary prevention needs to be more implemented in the elderly, this might contribute to improve health status and quality of life in this growing population if correctly performed.

Background: Medication adherence (MA) is the most important controlling factor of high blood pressure (HBP). There are a few MA models, but they have not been successful in predicting MA completely. Thus, this study aimed to expand a conceptual model of MA based on an ecological approach. Methods: An integrative review of the literature based on theoretical and empirical studies was completed. Data source comprised: Medline (including PubMed and Ovid), ISI, Embase, Google scholar, and internal databases such as Magiran, Google, SID, and internal magazines. Primary English and Persian language studies were collected from 1940 to 2018. The steps of study included: (a) problem identification, (b) literature review and extracting studies, (c) appraising study quality, (d) gathering data, (e) data analysis using the directed content analysis, (f) concluding. Results: Thirty-six articles were finally included and analyzed. After analysis, predictors of MA in older adults with hypertension were categorized into personal, interpersonal, organizational, and social factors. Although the personal factors have the most predictors in sub-categories of behavioral, biological, psychological, knowledge, disease, and medication agents, social, organizational and interpersonal factors can have indirect and important effects on elderly MA. Conclusion: There are many factors influencing MA of elderly with HBP. The personal factor has the most predictors. The designed model of MA because of covering all predictor factors, can be considered as a comprehensive MA model. It is suggested that future studies should select factors for study from all levels of the model.

In recent years, there has been interest in evaluating the morbidity and mortality risk of circadian, diurnal, or nocturnal blood pressure variation. Variation is a normative property of blood pressure, necessary for survival. Like many physiological functions, blood pressure undergoes allostasis, meaning that the body does not defend a particular blood pressure value, but rather blood pressure maintains bodily stability through continual change that is initiated by constantly fluctuating internal and external environmental stimuli. Because of its allostatic and adaptive properties, the blood pressure response to unusual situations like a visit to the clinic can lead to misdiagnosis of hypertension. However, blood pressure variation is mostly ignored when evaluating hypertension, which is an arbitrary dichotomy. Whether variation is indicative of pathology should be determined by assessing its appropriateness for the circumstance, which requires quantification of the sources and extent of normative blood pressure responses to everyday living. These responses will vary among populations due to evolutionary genetic differences. The inconsistency of reports regarding aspects of ambulatory blood pressure variation as cardiovascular risk factors likely results from the fact that the measures used do not reflect the actual nature of blood pressure allostasis.

Oxidative stress is a consequence of reduction in the antioxidant capacity and excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS). Oxidative agents, which are overproduced due to ischemic-reperfusion injury in the placenta, may overwhelm the normal antioxidant activity. This imbalance is a key feature in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. A decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity is associated with the synthesis of vasoconstrictive eicosanoids such as F2-isoprostanes and thromboxane, which are known to be upregulated in preeclampsia. Biochemical markers of lipid peroxidation, such as malondialdehyde and F2-isoprostane in the placenta, are also increased. Adhesion molecules participate in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia by contributing to a reduced invasion by the trophoblast and increased vascular endothelial damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and GPX play important roles counteracting oxidative stress. Other antioxidant factors participate in the etiology of preeclampsia. Levels of antioxidants such as Lycopene, Coenzyme 10, as well as some vitamins, are reduced in preeclamptic gestations.

Introduction: Prevalence of hypertension (HTN) is increasing in the developing countries like Iran. Various studies have reported different rates of HTN in Iran. The purpose of this study was to estimate an overall prevalence of HTN in Iran. Methodology: Using the English and Persian key derived from Mesh, the databases including MagIran, Iran Medex, SID, Web of Sciences, PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar as a searching engine were reviewed: from 2004 to 2018. The overall prevalence of MA was estimated using Random effect model. The I2 test was used to assess the heterogeneity of the studies. Additionally, the quality of studies was evaluated using a standard tool. Publication bias was conducted with the Egger test. Meta-regression and analysis of subgroups were analyzed based on variables such as age, marital status, region and tools. Data were analyzed using STATA 12 software. Results: Analysis of 58 primary articles with a sample size of 902580 showed that the prevalence of HTN in Iran was 25% (with 95% CI of 22-28). The highest prevalence of HTN was related to elderly (42%). The prevalence of HTN was 25% (95% CI: 19-31) in women and 24% (95% CI: 20-28) in men with no significant difference (p = 0.758). The results also indicated that the prevalence of HTN was not related to the year of studies (p = 0.708) or sample size (p = 769). Conclusion: Despite the advancements in science and technology, along with health and prevention of diseases, the overall prevalence of HTN raised in Iran. Since HTN is a silent disease with significant health consequences and economic burden, programs designed to better HTN control seem vital to enhance community health.

Background: Different antihypertensive therapies (especially diuretics) are reported to induce the new onset of diabetes in some hypertensive patients. α-adducin-1 (ADD1) gene is salt sensitive gene which has its role in etiology of hypertension via salt sensitivity. Therefore, the G460T polymorphism of ADD1 gene may be associated with new onset of diabetes under the influence of diuretic and other antihypertensive therapies. Aim: To assess the correlation between genetic polymorphism (ADD1 G460T polymorphism) and glycaemic disturbance under influence of diuretic and other antihypertensive drug therapies. Materials and Methods: We recruited study subjects, 270 normotensive as control (150 male and 120 females), 270 hypertensive patients (95 male and 175 females) and 240 hypertensive with new onset of diabetes patients (80 male and 160 females). All study samples were genotyped for ADD1 polymorphic alleles and analyzed the relationship between different genotypes with respect to anthropometric and clinical parameters along with drug therapies. Results: Clinical and anthropometric parameters (such as age, SBP, DBP, FBG, height, weight, WC, HP, W/H ratio, and BMI) of study population were found highly statistically significant (p<0.05) at base value. Further, genotype wise comparison of all the above parameters revealed most of them as non-significant (p>0.05). Whereas, comparison between genotype and different antihypertensive drug therapy of hypertensive patients, specifically, diuretic therapy as mono in male (p=0.0227) and female (p=0.0292) and in combination with BBs in both male (p=0.0023) and female (p=0.0079) revealed a higher FBG level in variant T allele. In case of hypertensive with new onset of diabetes patients, only female population showed a slightly statistically significant (p=0.0413) difference in FBG level with diuretic mono therapy. Other antihypertensive drug therapies were safe and effective either as mono or in combination therapy. Discussion: Anthropometric parameters may be the indicative factors for hypertension and diabetes. Variant T allele of ADD1 gene may be considered as the risk factor for the development of diabetes in hypertensive patients. Diuretics as mono therapy and in combination with BBs may be considered as the risk factor for new onset of diabetes in EH patients carrying variant T allele (either as TG or TT).

Background: Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is not yet routine in clinical practice. Objectives: To quantify abnormal ABP patterns and their associations with diabetic complications, and to assess the reliability of office blood pressure (OBP) for assessing BP in T2DM. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, eligible patients with T2DM underwent OBP and 24- hour ABP measurements under standardized conditions and screening for diabetic complications. Results: 56 patients (mean age 67 ± 10 years, males 50%) completed assessment. 43(73%) had a known history of hypertension. Non-dipping and nocturnal systolic hypertension (SHT) were prevalent in 31(55%) and 32(57%) patients, respectively. 16(29%) demonstrated masked phenomenon, but only three (7%) demonstrated white coat effect. Nocturnal SHT had a significant association with composite microvascular complications independent of daytime systolic BP control (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.72(CI 1.41-4.25). There was no association between other abnormal ABP patterns and diabetic complications. The sensitivity and specificity of OBP for diagnosing HT or assessing BP control was 59% and 68% respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 74% and 52% respectively. Conclusion: Non-dipping, reverse dipping, nocturnal SHT and masked phenomenon are highly prevalent in patients with T2DM with or without a known history of hypertension. Compared with non-dipping, nocturnal SHT may be a stronger predictor of end organ damage. The reliability of OBP for assessing BP in T2DM is only modest. Patients with T2DM are likely to benefit from routine ABP monitoring.

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that genetically ablation of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) exacerbates impairment of baroreflex in mice fed a western diet (WD) and leads to distinct diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure patterns. Methods: TRPV1 gene knockout (TRPV1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were given a WD or normal diet (CON) for 4 months. Results: Capsaicin, a selective TRPV1 agonist, increased ipsilateral afferent renal nerve activity in WT but not TRPV1-/- mice. The sensitivity of renal sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate responses to baroreflex were reduced in TRPV1-/--CON and WT-WD and further decreased in TRPV1-/--WD compared to the WT-CON group. Urinary norepinephrine and serum insulin and leptin at day and night were increased in WT-WD and TRPV1-/--WD, with further elevation at night in TRPV1-/--WD. WD intake increased leptin, IL-6, and TNF-α in adipose tissue, and TNF-α antagonist III, R-7050, decreased leptin in TRPV1-/--WD. The urinary albumin level was higher in TRPV1-/--WD than WT-WD. Blood pressure was not different during daytime among all groups, but increased at night in the TRPV1-/--WD group compared with other groups. Conclusions: TRPV1 ablation leads to elevated nocturnal but not diurnal blood pressure, which is probably attributed to further enhancement of sympathetic drives at night.

Objective: To assess the relationship between maternal serum uric acid and severity of Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a rural tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: Present study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of rural tertiary care centre of Northern India over seven months (October 2016-May 2017) on 110 women admitted with a Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (Gestational hypertension, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia) at ≥34 weeks gestation. Maternal serum uric acid levels were compared in three groups in relation to disease severity, mode of delivery, maternal outcome. Results: Of total 110 women with a Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy; 35 (31.81%) had Gestational Hypertension, 49 (44.54%) preeclampsia and 26 (23.63%) had eclampsia. Mean±SD values for serum uric acid were 5.47±1.93 mg/dl in women with Gestational Hypertension; 6.72±2.15 mg/dl in Pre-eclampsia and 8.71±2.97 mg/dl in the eclamptic group. Of 110 women 34(97.14%) with gestational hypertension, 27(55.10%) with pre-eclampsia and one (3.85%) with eclampsia remained stable in post-partum period, 17 (34.69%) women with severe pre-eclampsia and 15 (57.69%) with eclampsia required intensive care in postpartum period and one (2.86%) women with gestational hypertension, five (10.20%) with pre-eclmapsia and ten (38.46%) with eclampsia required ventilator support and high dependency unit care. Of these 16 women with the severe disease, ten succumbed to death. Also, in women with serum uric acid,>6mg/dl, most common mode of delivery was a lower segment cesarean section (50.90%). Conclusion: Significant correlation was observed between maternal serum uric acid, disease severity and maternal outcome.

Background: Anthropometric indices are useful to identify excess weight and poor health outcomes. Previous research showed that some indices are correlated to blood pressure (BP) among adults. Yet, these associations are poorly characterized in women with sarcopenic obesity (SO). SO is characterized as the combination of sarcopenia and obesity and has been examined as an emerging cause of disorders and frailty. Objective: The study aims to examine the association between anthropometric indices and BP in community-dwelling women with and without SO. Method: 118 women (46.3 ± 15.6 years; 1.56 ± .07m; 66.9 ± 12.5kg) underwent BP and anthropometric assessments. Body weight, height, as well as waist (WC) and hip circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), waist-to-hip (WHR) and waist-toheight (WHtR) ratio were calculated. SO was identified based on median values of percent body fat and muscle mass. Partial correlation was used to assess the association between adiposity indices and BP adopting age, presence of hypertension and use of antihypertensive medication as controlling variables. The significance level was set at P ≤ .05. Results: systolic BP was significantly higher in subjects with SO (126.4 ± 14.1 vs 121.0 ± 11.6mmHg, P = .01). Correlations between anthropometric indices and systolic BP were generally higher in women with SO, reaching statistical significance for WC (r = .39, P lt; .05) and WHtR (r = .30, P < .05) when age was the controlling variable. Conclusion: The association of adiposity indices and BP is stronger in subjects with SO when compared to those without SO.