Systolic Blood Pressure Control Research Articles

Association of Oral Health and Periodontal Disease with Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: The association of orodental and cardiovascular health has been an area of extensive research for many years. As per American Heart Association hypertension 2017 guidelines, good periodontal health is associated with better systolic blood pressure control. However, there have been conflicting results for hypertension and dental correlation in a few other studies. Moreover, there are no recognized oral manifestations, seen in patients with hypertension. Indian data on this subject are scarce. Therefore, the present study was contemplated to determine the frequency and nature of oral manifestations in hypertensive patients as compared to normotensive patients. Materials and Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, participants were divided into two groups. Group A included 40 hypertensive subjects and group B included 40 healthy normotensive volunteers. Oral symptoms such as dry mouth, altered taste sensation, mouth odor, and bleeding from gums were noted. An oral examination was performed to check periodontal pockets, lichenoid reactions, and gingival hyperplasia. Russell’s Periodontal Index was used to estimate gingival and periodontal health. Results: The mean age of patients in the hypertensive group was higher than normotensive groups (53.8 ± 11 vs. 42.45 ± 12, P = 0.001). Oral symptoms in the form of dry mouth, halitosis, and altered taste were reported in 60%, 52.5%, and 42.5% of hypertensive patients which were significantly higher as compared to the control group. Bleeding gums, lichenoid reactions, and gingival enlargement were also significantly higher in hypertensive than normotensive groups. The mean value of Russell’s index was 1.09 ± 0.41 in group A which was significantly different from group B (0.05 ± 0.10). Gingival hyperplasia and gum bleeding were predominantly found in patients on calcium channel blockers, whereas lichenoid reactions were significantly present in patients on angiotensin receptor blockers. Hyposalivation was reported with all four classes of antihypertensive drugs, predominantly diuretics. Conclusion: The orodental involvement in hypertensive subjects has a wide spectrum from mildly symptomatic halitosis and dryness of mouth to severe bleeding gums, lichenoid lesions, irreversible bone loss, and periodontitis that may require dental visits and interventions. The documented mucosal changes can also be attributed to antihypertensive drugs. Regular dental examinations should be made part of routine screening programs of hypertensive patients to protect them from various oral complications and subsequent inflammation-mediated changes in vasculature endothelium.

Effectiveness of a nurse-led management intervention on systolic blood pressure among type 2 diabetes patients in Uganda: a cluster randomized trial

BackgroundHypertension (HT) is an orchestrator of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HT as a whole is suboptimal in diabetes, partly due to the scarcity of doctors. While nurse-led interventions are pragmatic and cost-effective in the control of HT in primary health care, their effectiveness on SBP control among patients with T2D in Uganda is scantly known.AimWe evaluated the effectiveness of a nurse-led management intervention on SBP among T2D patients with a high ASCVD risk in Uganda.MethodsA two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial compared the nurse-led management intervention with usual doctor-led care. The intervention involved training nurses to provide structured health education, protocol-based HT/CVD management, 24-h phone calls, and 2-monthly text messages for 6 months. The primary outcome was the mean difference in SBP change among patients with T2D with a high ASCVD risk in the intervention and control groups after 6 months. The secondary outcome was the absolute difference in the number of patients at target for SBP, total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and body mass index (BMI) after the intervention. The study was analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess intra-cluster effect modifiers. Statistical significance was set at 0.05 for all analyses.ResultsEight clinics (n = 388 patients) were included (intervention 4 clinics; n = 192; control 4 clinics; n = 196). A nurse-led intervention reduced SBP by -11.21 ± 16.02 mmHg with a mean difference between the groups of -13.75 mmHg (95% CI -16.48 to -11.02, p < 0.001). An increase in SBP of 2.54 ± 10.95 mmHg was observed in the control group. Diastolic blood pressure was reduced by -6.80 ± 9.48 mmHg with a mean difference between groups of -7.20 mmHg (95% C1 -8.87 to -5.48, p < 0.001). The mean differences in the change in ASCVD score and glycated hemoglobin were -4.73% (95% CI -5.95 to -3.51, p = 0.006) and -0.82% (95% CI -1.30 to -0.35, p = 0.001), respectively. There were significant absolute differences in the number of patients at target in SBP (p = 0.001), DBP (p = 0.003), and TC (p = 0.008).ConclusionA nurse-led management intervention reduces SBP and ASCVD risk among patients with T2D. Such an intervention may be pragmatic in the screening and management of HT/ASCVD in Uganda.Trial registrationPan African Clinical Trial Registry, PACTR202001916873358, registered on 6th October 2019.

Effects of an early intensive blood pressure-lowering strategy using remifentanil and dexmedetomidine in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a multicenter, prospective, superiority, randomized controlled trial.

Although it has been established that elevated blood pressure and its variability worsen outcomes in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, antihypertensives use during the acute phase still lacks robust evidence. A blood pressure-lowering regimen using remifentanil and dexmedetomidine might be a reasonable therapeutic option given their analgesic and anti-sympathetic effects. The objective of this superiority trial was to validate the efficacy and safety of this blood pressure-lowering strategy that uses remifentanil and dexmedetomidine in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage. In this multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, superiority randomized controlled trial, patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥150 mmHg were randomly allocated to the intervention group (a preset protocol with a standard guideline management using remifentanil and dexmedetomidine) or the control group (standard guideline-based management) to receive blood pressure-lowering treatment. The primary outcome was the SBP control rate (<140 mmHg) at 1 h posttreatment initiation. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure variability, neurologic function and clinical outcomes. A total of 338 patients were allocated to the intervention (n = 167) or control group (n = 171). The SBP control rate at 1 h posttreatment initiation in the intervention group was higher than that in controls (101/161, 62.7% vs. 66/166, 39.8%, difference 23.2%, 95% CI, 12.4 to 34.1%, P < 0.001). Analysis of secondary outcomes indicated that patients in the intervention group could effectively reduce agitation while achieving lighter sedation, but no improvement in clinical outcomes was observed. Regarding safety, the incidence of bradycardia and respiratory depression was higher in the intervention group. Among intracerebral hemorrhage patients with a SBP ≥ 150 mmHg, a preset protocol using a remifentanil and dexmedetomidine-based standard guideline management significantly increased the SBP control rate at 1 h posttreatment compared with the standard guideline-based management. (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03207100, Registration date: June 30, 2017).

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Nicardipine versus Clevidipine for Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Crisis

BackgroundHypertensive crisis is an acute increase in blood pressure greater than 180/120 mmHg. A titratable antihypertensive agent is preferred to acutely lower blood pressure in a controlled way and prevent an abrupt overcorrection. Nicardipine and clevidipine are both dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers that provide unique benefits for blood pressure control. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of nicardipine or clevidipine for blood pressure control in the setting of hypertensive crisis. MethodsThis was a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Eligible patients received either nicardipine or clevidipine for the treatment of hypertensive crisis. The primary outcome was achievement of 25% reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 1 hour. The secondary outcome was achievement of a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of < 160 mmHg at 2-6 hours from the start of the infusion. ResultsThis study included a total of 156 patients with 74 in the nicardipine group and 82 in the clevidipine group. The SBP on admission and at the start of the infusion was similar between groups. There was no difference between groups in achieving a 25% reduction in MAP at one hour. Nicardipine achieved a SBP goal of < 160 mmHg at 2-6 hours significantly more often than the clevidipine group (89.2% vs 73.2%; p-value 0.011). ConclusionThere is no difference between agents for initial blood pressure control in the treatment of hypertensive crisis. Nicardipine showed more sustained SBP control with a lower risk of rebound hypertension and a significant cost savings as compared to clevidipine.

Effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 5-year cohort follow-up managed by a dynamic multidisciplinary team in Northeastern Mexico

BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic brought a radical shift in the healthcare system and suboptimal care for vulnerable patients, such as those with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D). Therefore, we compared metabolic control and macro/microvascular complications of patients with T2D before and throughout the three-year SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Research design and methodsA retrospective observational cohort of subjects with T2D studied from 2018 to 2022 in Northern Mexico was treated by a dynamic multidisciplinary team. Levels of Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting serum glucose (FG), LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C), blood pressure (BP), albuminuria, triglycerides, Body Mass Index (BMI), and FIB-4 score, micro and macrovascular complications were evaluated.ResultsA total of 999 patients were studied, 51.7% males with a mean (SD) age of 60.1 (12.7) years. Adequate glycemic control based on HbA1c increased by 15.2% and 42.3% in FSG (p < 0.001) between the beginning 2018 and the end of 2022. LDL-C control decreased by 5.1% between 2018 and 2022 (p < 0.001). Systolic BP control decreased by 2.6% (p < 0.001), whereas diastolic BP control increased by 1.8% (p = 0.01) between 2018 and 2022. Albuminuria control increased by 8.5% (p = 0.002). When comparing the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of metabolic parameters between patients who developed SARS-CoV-2 vs. those who did not, AUC was statistically higher in those who developed SARS-CoV-2 (p < 0.05). Diabetic neuropathy was the most prevalent microvascular complication (n = 35; 3.6%); ischemic heart disease was the most frequent macrovascular complication (n = 11;1.1%).ConclusionsA multidisciplinary dynamic team that adapts to the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 maintains and increases metabolic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes in Mexico. This represents a low percentage of chronic complications. The AUC of metabolic parameters of subjects with SARS-CoV-2 infection is higher, reflecting more variability in metabolic control.Graphical

Association of intensive blood pressure management with cardiovascular outcomes in patients using multiple classes of antihypertensive medications: a post-hoc analysis of the STEP Trial.

High medication burden is associated with poor treatment effect and high risk of cardiovascular outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between the antihypertensive medication burden and cardiovascular outcomes in the STEP trial. This post-hoc analysis of the STEP trial enrolled 8511 participants, including 8041 with low burden and 470 with high burden. High antihypertensive medication burden was defined as being treated with ≥3 different classes of prescribed antihypertensive medications. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular outcomes. Fine-Gray model was used in this study. Among all participants, high antihypertensive medication burden was associated with a higher risk of the primary outcome compared with low medication burden (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.03-2.24), which was consistent in the standard group (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.20-3.18) and the intensive group (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.57-2.13; Pinteraction = 0.18). The beneficial effects of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) control on the primary outcome remained significant in the high burden group (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19-0.95) and the low burden group (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.98; Pinteraction = 0.18). At 24 months, the percentage of participants achieving the target SBP was lower in the high medication burden group (risk ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98). In both standard and intensive treatment groups, participants with a high medication burden were harder to achieve the target SBP (Pinteraction = 0.65). High antihypertensive medication burden was associated with worse SBP control and a greater risk of cardiovascular events. Intensive SBP control showed cardiovascular benefits in both medication burden groups. Trial registration: STEP ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03015311. Registered 2 January 2017.

Influence of Time to Achieve Target Systolic Blood Pressure on Outcome After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: The Blood Pressure in Acute Stroke Collaboration.

To investigate whether an earlier time to achieving and maintaining systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 120 to 140 mm Hg is associated with favorable outcomes in a cohort of patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage. We pooled individual patient data from randomized controlled trials registered in the Blood Pressure in Acute Stroke Collaboration. Time was defined as time form symptom onset plus the time (hour) to first achieve and subsequently maintain SBP at 120 to 140 mm Hg over 24 hours. The primary outcome was functional status measured by the modified Rankin Scale at 90 to 180 days. A generalized linear mixed models was used, with adjustment for covariables and trial as a random effect. A total of 5761 patients (mean age, 64.0 [SD, 13.0], 2120 [36.8%] females) were included in analyses. Earlier SBP control was associated with better functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 3-6; odds ratio, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.97-0.99]) and a significant lower risk of hematoma expansion (0.98, 0.96-1.00). This association was stronger in patients with bigger baseline hematoma volume (>10 mL) compared with those with baseline hematoma volume ≤10 mL (0.006 for interaction). Earlier SBP control was not associated with cardiac or renal adverse events. Our study confirms a clear time relation between early versus later SBP control (120-140 mm Hg) and outcomes in the one-third of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who attained sustained SBP levels within this range. These data provide further support for the value of early recognition, rapid transport, and prompt initiation of treatment of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Intensive Versus Standard Blood Pressure Management after Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Prospective clinical studies on blood pressure (BP) management targets after endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have recently been published. Our objective was to assess the impact on clinical outcomes of BP management guided by established systolic BP (SBP) targets within the first 24 hours after successful EVT. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 1556 participants across 5 SBP target settings identified from 5 databases up to September 6, 2023 were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All the intensive SBP target groups in these RCTs were combined to facilitate head-to-head comparisons. Patients receiving intensive SBP management had lower risk of 90-day functional independence as assessed by the modified Rankin scale score (relative risk [RR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.91; I2, 12%), excellent outcomes (RR,0.86; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; I2, 7%), favorable outcomes (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.92; I2, 0%), and quality of life (standardized mean difference, -0.22; 95% CI, -0.35 to -0.10; I2,0%). There were no differences in the probability of any intracerebral hemorrhage (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.19; I2,0%), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.60; I2, 0%), stroke-related death (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.68; I2, 0%), or parenchymal hematoma (RR, 1.71; 95% CI, 0.74 to 3.98; I2, 47%) between SBP targets. This meta-analysis provides evidence from RCTs suggesting that intensive SBP control (target<160mm Hg) may be detrimental to clinical outcomes in AIS patients with successful reperfusion after EVT.

Telehealth Trends and Hypertension Management Among Rural and Medicaid Patients After COVID-19.

Objective: Examine the associations between rurality and low income with primary care telehealth utilization and hypertension outcomes across multiple years pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic onset. Methods: We compiled electronic health record data from the mixed rural/urban Dartmouth Health system in New Hampshire, United States, on patients with pre-existing hypertension or diabetes receiving primary care in the period before (January 2018-February 2020) and after the transition period to telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic (October 2020-December 2022). Stratifying by rurality and Medicaid enrollment, we examined changes in synchronous (office and telehealth visits, including audio/video use) and asynchronous (patient portal or telephone message) utilization, and control of mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140. Results: Analysis included 46,520 patients, of whom 8.2% were Medicaid enrollees, 42.7% urban residents. Telehealth use rates were 12% for rural versus 6.4% for urban, and 15% for Medicaid versus 8.4% non-Medicaid. The overall postpandemic telehealth visit rate was 0.29 per patient per year. Rural patients had a larger increase in telehealth use (additional 0.21 per year, 95% CI, 0.19-0.23) compared with urban, as did Medicaid (0.32, 95% CI 0.29-0.36) compared with non-Medicaid. Among the 38,437 patients with hypertension, SBP control worsened from 83% to 79% of patients across periods. In multivariable analysis, rurality corresponded to worsened control rates compared with urban (additional 2.4% decrease, 95% CI 2.1-2.8%); Medicaid and telehealth use were not associated with worsened control. Conclusions: Telehealth expansion enabled a higher shift to telehealth for rural and low-income patients without impairing hypertension management.

Impact of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychosocial Interventions on the Effective Management of Hypertension

Hypertension or elevated blood pressure is a chronic non-communicable disease, in which the force of the circulating blood through the major blood vessels and arteries of the body, is consistently high leading to severe health complications. Given the high rates of unawareness of the condition and low rates of detection, diagnosis and treatment of high BP, which has been termed as the “silent killer”, patients tend to be non-adherent to their treatment regimen which lowers their blood pressure control, quality of life and prognosis. A community-based cluster randomized controlled trial, that utilized a 4x3 factorial between-subjects experimental design, was adopted to determine the simultaneous and comparative impact, of three cognitive and behavioural psychosocial interventions on the systolic and diastolic BP control, hypertension knowledge, therapeutic adherence, health beliefs and self-efficacy among hypertensive patients, across the three time points of the study. A sample of 224 hypertensive participants were randomly selected from the four villages of Railapur, Athvelly, Nuthankal, and Rawalkol and were randomly assigned to the Doctor, Video, Community Health Worker and Control conditions respectively. The results showed that the hypertensive patients in the three psychosocial intervention groups showed significantly higher therapeutic adherence, blood-pressure control, hypertension-related knowledge, hypertension-related health beliefs and self-efficacy as compared to the control group after the administration of the interventions. By means of pathway modelling using multiple linear regression analyses, the three psychosocial interventions were found to be direct, significant, and positive predictors of the therapeutic adherence among hypertensive patients, which in turn was the largest, significant and negative contributor to the systolic and diastolic BP reading among them.

Prevalence of Systemic Hypertension and Control of Systolic Blood Pressure in a Cohort of 14 Dogs with Adrenal-Dependent Hypercortisolism during the First Year of Trilostane Treatment or after Adrenalectomy

Hypercortisolism in dogs is frequently associated with systemic hypertension (SH). However, there are no studies evaluating the changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in dogs with adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism (ADH) during trilostane treatment or after adrenalectomy and their response to antihypertensive treatments. For this reason, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the changes in SBP in dogs with ADH during the first year of trilostane treatment or after adrenalectomy, the relation with clinical control of hypercortisolism and certain laboratory parameters, and the response to antihypertensive drugs. Fourteen dogs newly diagnosed with ADH were prospectively included and evaluated at diagnosis (T0) and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after (T1, T3, T6, and T12, respectively). Dogs were classified as hypertensive (HT; SBP ≥ 160 mmHg) and non-hypertensive. In HT dogs, benazepril was considered as the first-line drug, and, if necessary, amlodipine was prescribed. The prevalence of SH at T0 was 79%, and it was reduced to 25% at T12. Blood pressure (BP) was not associated with disease control or selected laboratory parameters at any endpoint. Only 22% of dogs with SH needed more than one drug to normalize their SBP. In all dogs surgically treated that were HT at T0, BP normalized at T3.

Machine learning-based prediction of mild cognitive impairment among individuals with normal cognitive function.

Previous studies mainly focused on risk factors in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. The aim of the study was to provide basis for preventing MCI in cognitive normal populations. The data came from a longitudinal retrospective study involving individuals with brain magnetic resonance imaging scans, clinical visits, and cognitive assessment with interval of more than 3 years. Multiple machine-learning technologies, including random forest, support vector machine, logistic regression, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and naïve Bayes, were used to establish a prediction model of a future risk of MCI through a combination of clinical and image variables. Among these machine learning models; eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) was the best classification model. The classification accuracy of clinical variables was 65.90%, of image variables was 79.54%, of a combination of clinical and image variables was 94.32%. The best result of the combination was an accuracy of 94.32%, a precision of 96.21%, and a recall of 93.08%. XGB with a combination of clinical and image variables had a potential prospect for the risk prediction of MCI. From clinical perspective, the degree of white matter hyperintensity (WMH), especially in the frontal lobe, and the control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) were the most important risk factor for the development of MCI. The best MCI classification results came from the XGB model with a combination of both clinical and imaging variables. The degree of WMH in the frontal lobe and SBP control were the most important variables in predicting MCI.

Abstract WP210: Intensive vs. Conventional Blood Pressure Management After Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Optimal Blood pressure management after thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke and its association with clinical outcomes remains unclear. We performed this study to compare clinical outcomes between intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) control (&lt;120-140mmHg) and conventional SBP control (&lt; 180mmHg). Methods: In September 2023, this registered systematic review (CRD42023464176) was performed using multiple databases for the following keywords: stroke, thrombectomy, and Blood Pressure from 2010 to present. Randomized control studies were included if they had the reported the outcome for adults aged &gt;18 who underwent successful thrombectomy (defined as mTICI 2b or higher) for acute ischemic stroke. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of functional independence, defined as a modified Rankin scale of 0-2 at 90 days. The secondary outcomes of interest included rates of mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). For all outcome events, corresponding odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Results: Four studies comprising 1497 patients were included. Compared to conventional SBP control, intensive SBP control was associated with lower rates of functional independence (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51- 0.88 p=0.0). There were comparable rates of sICH (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.75-1.67; p = 0.56) and mortality (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.90-1.64; p = 0.19) between intensive and conventional SBP control groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that intensive blood pressure control does not improve clinical outcomes. More robust data is needed to draw definite conclusions.

Legacy benefits of blood pressure treatment on cardiovascular events are primarily mediated by improved blood pressure variability: the ASCOT trial.

Visit-to-visit systolic blood pressure variability (BPV) is an important predictor of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. The long-term effect of a period of blood pressure (BP) control, but with differential BPV, is uncertain. Morbidity and mortality follow-up of UK participants in the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial-Blood Pressure-Lowering Arm has been extended for up to 21 years to determine the CV impact of mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) control and BPV during the trial, and amongst those allocated to amlodipine- and atenolol-based treatment. Eight thousand five hundred and eighty hypertensive participants (4305 assigned to amlodipine ± perindopril-based and 4275 to atenolol ± diuretic-based treatment during the in-trial period (median 5.5 years) were followed for up to 21 years (median 17.4 years), using linked hospital and mortality records. A subgroup of participants (n = 2156) was followed up 6 years after the trial closure with a self-administered questionnaire and a clinic visit. In-trial mean SBP and standard deviation of visit-to-visit SBP as a measure of BPV, were measured using >100 000 BP measurements. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk [hazard ratios (HRs)], associated with (i) mean with SBP and BPV during the in-trial period, for the CV endpoints occurring after the end of the trial and (ii) randomly assigned treatment to events following randomization, for the first occurrence of pre-specified CV outcomes. Using BP data from the in-trial period, in the post-trial period, although mean SBP was a predictor of CV outcomes {HR per 10 mmHg, 1.14 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.17], P < .001}, systolic BPV independent of mean SBP was a strong predictor of CV events [HR per 5 mmHg 1.22 (95% CI 1.18-1.26), P < .001] and predicted events even in participants with well-controlled BP. During 21-year follow-up, those on amlodipine-based compared with atenolol-based in-trial treatment had significantly reduced risk of stroke [HR 0.82 (95% CI 0.72-0.93), P = .003], total CV events [HR 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.98), P = .008], total coronary events [HR 0.92 (95% CI 0.86-0.99), P = .024], and atrial fibrillation [HR 0.91 (95% CI 0.83-0.99), P = .030], with weaker evidence of a difference in CV mortality [HR 0.91 (95% CI 0.82-1.01), P = .073]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. Systolic BPV is a strong predictor of CV outcome, even in those with controlled SBP. The long-term benefits of amlodipine-based treatment compared with atenolol-based treatment in reducing CV events appear to be primarily mediated by an effect on systolic BPV during the trial period.

Self-Measured Blood Pressure-Guided Pharmacotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of United States-Based Telemedicine Trials.

The optimal approach to implementing telemedicine hypertension management in the United States is unknown. We examined telemedicine hypertension management versus the effect of usual clinic-based care on blood pressure (BP) and patient/clinician-related heterogeneity in a systematic review/meta-analysis. We searched United States-based randomized trials from Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Compendex, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and 2 trial registries. We used trial-level differences in BP and its control rate at ≥6 months using random-effects models. We examined heterogeneity in univariable metaregression and in prespecified subgroups (clinicians leading pharmacotherapy [physician/nonphysician], self-management support [pharmacist/nurse], White versus non-White patient predominant trials [>50% patients/trial], diabetes predominant trials [≥25% patients/trial], and White patient predominant but not diabetes predominant trials versus both non-White and diabetes patient predominant trials]. Thirteen, 11, and 7 trials were eligible for systolic and diastolic BP difference and BP control, respectively. Differences in systolic and diastolic BP and BP control rate were -7.3 mm Hg (95% CI, -9.4 to -5.2), -2.7 mm Hg (-4.0 to -1.5), and 10.1% (0.4%-19.9%), respectively, favoring telemedicine. Greater BP reduction occurred in trials where nonphysicians led pharmacotherapy, pharmacists provided self-management support, White patient predominant trials, and White patient predominant but not diabetes predominant trials, with no difference by diabetes predominant trials. Telemedicine hypertension management is more effective than clinic-based care in the United States, particularly when nonphysicians lead pharmacotherapy and pharmacists provide self-management support. Non-White patient predominant trials achieved less BP reduction. Equity-conscious, locally informed adaptation of telemedicine interventions is needed before wider implementation.

Implementation of blood pressure and blood glucose telemonitoring in the elderly population in primary care practices: a right step towards integrated care?

Background: Arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) represent a significant burden on the public health system, with an exceptionally high prevalence in patients aged ≥65 years. One of the possible solutions to improve disease outcomes, promote integrated care with high patient engagement and support self-management in patients with AH and T2D at the primary care level is blood pressure and blood glucose telemonitoring.&#x0D; Target Population: Patients aged ≥65 years with AH and T2D &#x0D; Stakeholders Engagement: In designing the intervention, we involved stakeholders at the micro-level (patients, health professionals), meso-level (managers of the included community health centres, representatives of the national association of general practitioners and associations of patients with chronic diseases) and macro-level (representatives of the Medical Faculty and Ministry of Health). &#x0D; Description Of Intervention: We conducted a multicentre, prospective, randomised, controlled pilot study. Patients aged ≥ 65 years with AH and T2D were randomised 1:1 to an mHealth intervention or standard care group. Patients in the intervention group measured their blood pressure twice weekly and their blood glucose once monthly. The readings were synchronously transmitted via a mobile application to the telemonitoring platform, where they were reviewed by a general practitioner who indicated changes in the measurement scheme or performed a teleconsultation. Patients in the control group received standard care. The intervention lasted 12 months.&#x0D; Results Of Intervention: We enrolled 63 patients with a mean age of 71.9 ± 5.0 years, of whom 36 (57.1%) were men. The mean duration of AH was 15.1 ± 11.2 years and that of T2D was 9.1 ± 8.1 years. Mean systolic blood pressure at baseline was 141.2 ± 13.9 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure was 77.8 ± 9.0 mmHg and HbA1c was 7.2 ± 1.2%. At baseline, we found no significant differences between groups in sociodemographic and clinical variables. Compared with standard care, we observed an additional reduction in systolic blood pressure of -9.1 mmHg (95% CI -16.5 to -1.7, p=0.018), diastolic blood pressure of -2.3 mmHg (95% CI -6.1 to 1.4, p=0.215) and HbA1c of -0.7% (95% CI -1.2 to -0.1, p=0.022) in the telemonitoring group after 12 months. The intervention proved feasible and acceptable among included health professionals and patients (qualitative methods). &#x0D; Take-Home Message: Telemonitoring of blood pressure and blood glucose is a feasible, acceptable and clinically effective method of remote care for elderly patients, particularly with regard to systolic blood pressure and blood glucose control in the first 12 months. The major limitation of remote care in elderly remains the lack of skills in using modern technology. To maximise clinical and cost-effective impact, careful patient selection is required (i.e., patients with newly diagnosed disease, poor adherence, poor disease control).&#x0D; Next Steps: For further scale-up and implementation, further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of telemonitoring. Due to the high implementation costs, other applications of telemonitoring could be tested, with telemonitoring serving only as a short-term educational tool in the hands of registered nurses and primary care physicians during more complex health education interventions.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Findings from the KNOW-CKD Study indicate that higher systolic blood pressure time in target range is associated with a lower risk of chronic kidney disease progression

Time-in-target range (TTR) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) is determined by the proportion of time during which SBP remains within a defined optimal range. TTR has emerged as a useful metric for assessing SBP control over time. However, it is uncertain if SBP-TTR can predict the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, we investigated the association between SBP-TTR during the first year of enrollment and CKD progression among 1758 participants from the KNOW-CKD (KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease). Baseline median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 51.7 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Participants were categorized into four SBP-TTR groups (0%, 1–50%, 51–99%, and 100%). The primary outcome was CKD progression defined as 50% or more decline in eGFR from baseline measurement or the initiation of kidney replacement therapy. During the follow-up period (9212 person-years over a median 5.4 years), the composite outcome occurred in 710 participants. In the multivariate cause-specific hazard model, a one-standard deviation increase in SBP-TTR was associated with an 11% lower risk of the composite outcome with hazard ratio, 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.97). Additionally, compared to patients with SBP-TTR 0%, the respective hazard ratios for those with SBP-TTR 1–50%, 51–99%, and 100% were 0.85 (0.68–1.07), 0.76 (0.60–0.96), and 0.72 (0.55–0.94), and the respective corresponding slopes of eGFR decline were –3.17 (–3.66 to –2.69), –3.02 (–3.35 to –2.68), –2.62 (–2.89 to – 2.36), and –2.33 (–2.62 to –2.04) ml/min/1.73 m2 . Thus, higher SBP-TTR was associated with a decreased risk of CKD progression in patients with CKD.

Potential Long-Term Benefit of Home Systolic Blood Pressure Below 125 mm Hg for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: The J-HOP Study Extended.

The long-term benefit of achieving the Japanese Society of Hypertension home systolic blood pressure (SBP) target of <125 mm Hg has not been fully evaluated. This study investigated the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease events in individuals with home SBP <125 versus 125 to <135 or ≥135 mm Hg who participated in the J-HOP study (Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure). The J-HOP study enrolled outpatients with ≥1 cardiovascular risk factor between 2005 and 2012, with follow-up until March 2015 and extended follow-up from December 2017 to May 2018. Cardiovascular disease events (stroke, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and aortic dissection) were compared between home SBP subgroups. During mean 5.9 years of follow-up in 4231 participants (mean age, 65 years), cardiovascular events included stroke (n=89), coronary artery disease (n=116), congestive heart failure (n=37), and aortic dissection (n=8). The adjusted 10-year risk of total cardiovascular disease was slightly higher, and stroke risk was significantly higher when baseline home SBP was ≥135 versus <125 mm Hg (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 0.97-2.00] for overall cardiovascular disease and 2.68 [95% CI, 1.34-5.38] for stroke; this was largely due to between-group differences in the first 5 years of follow-up, which were maintained over the subsequent 5 years). Findings were similar in the subgroup of high-risk patients (those with diabetes or stroke history). These data highlight the potential long-term benefit of strict home SBP control and validate this as an appropriate Japanese Society of Hypertension guideline target although confirmation in larger populations is needed. URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry; Unique identifier: UMIN000000894 (Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure study).

Effect of Age Range on Power for a Clinical Trial Investigating the Effect of Intensive Systolic Blood Pressure Control on White Matter Hyperintensity Volume Accumulation

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological evidence has repeatedly demonstrated elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in midlife as a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) later in life. Despite SBP being readily treatable with safe and inexpensive medications, no clinical intervention implementing a lower SBP goal (&lt;120 mm Hg) in midlife to lower future ADRD risk has ever been attempted. Clinical outcomes are not practical in the age range of interest (45‐65 or 45‐70) during an initial trial period of 5 years however robust evidence demonstrates white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) as an MRI finding associated with and predictive of incident ADRD.MethodWe used four data sets (SPRINT, Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention, Framingham, and UK Biobank) with longitudinal MRI data to examine the effect of age range on power for a clinical trial proposal investigating the effect of intensive SBP control on annualized rates of WMHV accumulation in persons starting in middle age. Analyses were conducted separately in each data set. We calculated mean, standard deviations, and annualized rates of WMHV accumulation (derived from T2 FLAIR MRI), using the linear rate of change for accumulation rate, first stratifying by SBP ( = 132 mm Hg vs &lt;132mm Hg except in SPRINT where groups were stratified by goal SBP group) and then by various age ranges. Next, we examined the effect of age range on necessary sample size with 80% power and two‐tailed alpha of 0.05 for a prospective clinical trial.ResultAs expected, annualized WMHV accumulation rate is lower with younger age in all data sets. However, variability decreased (all four data sets) and the percent reduction achieved at lower SBPs is higher at younger ages (3/4 data sets), thus increasing power when excluding older individuals (e.g., &gt;65 years old, Table 1).ConclusionRestricting age to individuals to = 65 years‐old may unexpectedly increase power in a clinical trial designed to investigate the effect of goal SBP&lt;120 mm Hg on annualized WMHV accumulation rate. 45‐65 years‐old is a practical age range for the first ever clinical trial intended to investigate the effects of a lower SBP goal in middle age to reduce future ADRD risk.

Effect of Age Range on Power for a Clinical Trial Investigating the Effect of Intensive Systolic Blood Pressure Control on White Matter Hyperintensity Volume Accumulation

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological evidence has repeatedly demonstrated elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in midlife as a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) later in life. Despite SBP being readily treatable with safe and inexpensive medications, no clinical intervention implementing a lower SBP goal (&lt;120 mm Hg) in midlife to lower future ADRD risk has ever been attempted. Clinical outcomes are not practical in the age range of interest (45‐65 or 45‐70) during an initial trial period of 5 years however robust evidence demonstrates white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) as an MRI finding associated with and predictive of incident ADRD.MethodWe used four data sets (SPRINT, Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention, Framingham, and UK Biobank) with longitudinal MRI data to examine the effect of age range on power for a clinical trial proposal investigating the effect of intensive SBP control on annualized rates of WMHV accumulation in persons starting in middle age. Analyses were conducted separately in each data set. We calculated mean, standard deviations, and annualized rates of WMHV accumulation (derived from T2 FLAIR MRI), using the linear rate of change for accumulation rate, first stratifying by SBP (≥132 mm Hg vs &lt;132mm Hg except in SPRINT where groups were stratified by goal SBP group) and then by various age ranges. Next, we examined the effect of age range on necessary sample size with 80% power and two‐tailed alpha of 0.05 for a prospective clinical trial.ResultAs expected, annualized WMHV accumulation rate is lower with younger age in all data sets. However, variability decreased (all four data sets) and the percent reduction achieved at lower SBPs is higher at younger ages (3/4 data sets), thus increasing power when excluding older individuals (e.g., &gt;65 years old, Table 1).ConclusionRestricting age to individuals to ≤65 years‐old may unexpectedly increase power in a clinical trial designed to investigate the effect of goal SBP&lt;120 mm Hg on annualized WMHV accumulation rate. 45‐65 years‐old is a practical age range for the first ever clinical trial intended to investigate the effects of a lower SBP goal in middle age to reduce future ADRD risk.