Long-term Antihypertensive Efficacy of Losartan/Hydrochlorothiazide Combination Therapy on Home Blood Pressure Control

Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combination therapy has been shown to produce a prompt reduction in clinic blood pressure (BP) without serious adverse effects; however, long-term antihypertensive efficacy on home BP has not been fully investigated. In this open-label multicenter observational study, a total of 151 hypertensive patients uncontrolled with antihypertensive regimens including standard dose of ARBs were switched to the fixed-dose combination of losartan (50 mg)/HCTZ (12.5 mg) (mean age 66.9 ± 9.5 years, 51% male, 19% with diabetes mellitus, and 57% with dyslipidemia). After 3 months, losartan/HCTZ treatment significantly reduced mean home systolic BP/diastolic BP from a baseline level of 153 ± 11/85 ± 9 mm Hg to 136 ± 12/77 ± 10 mm Hg (P < .001) and mean clinic BP from 158 ± 9/87 ± 9 to 136 ± 12/77 ± 10 (P < .001), which were maintained through the study period of 12 months (132 ± 11/75 ± 9 and 136 ± 12/77 ± 10; home and clinic BP at 12 months, respectively, P < .001). Furthermore, younger patients (<65 years) receiving ARB monotherapy at the start of the study showed a significantly greater reduction in home BP, but not in clinic BP, compared with elderly patients (≥65 years). In conclusion, losartan/HCTZ combination therapy exerted a 1-year long-term efficacy on home BP as well as clinic BP. In patients uncontrolled with ARB monotherapy, the antihypertensive efficacy on home BP is more pronounced in younger patients compared with that in elderly patients.     

Efficacy of Combination Antihypertensive Therapy with Low-Dose Indapamide: Assessment by Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring at Home

We examined the effects of the addition of low-dose indapamide to antihypertensive drugs of other classes, as well as its duration of action, using blood pressure (BP) self-monitoring at home. Seventy-six patients undergoing monotherapy with a calcium channel blocker (CCB), angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), or angiotensin AT₁-receptor blocker (ARB), but had an average morning home systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 135 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 85 mmHg, were studied. Indapamide (1 mg) was added to their existing treatment once daily for 4 weeks. The additional hypotensive effects of indapamide were evaluated by casual and home BPs, and the results were compared among the three groups of subjects classified according to their initial drug treatment classes. The morning/evening (M/E) ratio of BP reduction was calculated to assess the duration of the effect. Overall, indapamide significantly (P < 0.001) lowered morning home BP (147 ± 12/87 ± 9 mmHg to 135 ± 12/81 ± 9 mmHg), evening home BP (138 ± 15/79 ± 10 mmHg to 126 ± 12/73 ± 9 mmHg), and casual BP (145 ± 21/86 ± 14 mmHg to 136 ± 17/81 ± 13 mmHg). All groupsshowed significant indapamide-induced home SBP/DBP decreases, whereas only the ACEI and ARB groups, but not the CCB group, showed a home pulse pressure (PP) reduction. Evening SBP and PP decreases were significantly greater in the ARB group than in the CCB group. The mean M/E ratio with indapamide was 0.95 for SBP and 0.85 for DBP. Low-dose indapamide used in combination can provide additional anti-hypertensive efficacy lasting for 24 h. The added effect of indapamide may be more prominent on ARBs than on CCBs.     

Effects of Antihypertensive Therapy on Blood Pressure Variability

Purpose of Review

The study aims to summarize the effect of antihypertensive therapy on various types of BP variability in hypertensives.

Recent Findings

Visit-to-visit, day-by-day, and ambulatory BPV are markers of target organ damage and cardiovascular prognosis, as was shown in the LIFE study, which showed that visit-to-visit variability in BP predicted cardiovascular events in treated hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Long-acting calcium channel blockers (CCBs) may be a preferable treatment in reducing BPV measures. Non-adherence to antihypertensive medication is also a very important component of increased BPV, and improving the adherence is also a key for the favorable prognosis.

Summary

BPV cannot be a target of antihypertensive treatments because of the lack of definitive evidence. However, in high-risk patients, those with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, the clinical significance should be considered in individual basis. Especially, reduction of BPV would be an important strategy for these patients.

     

Blood Pressure Variability and Its Implications for Antihypertensive Therapy

Although it is clear that antihypertensive treatment is beneficial in reducing stroke morbidity and mortality, the results of the major outcome studies show less impact on coronary heart disease. Studies utilizing 24-h blood pressure (BP) monitoring show a positive association between target organ damage and the level of 24-h BP, and with variability in BP, which is an independent determinant of target organ damage. Current understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of coronary heart disease suggests that optimal antihypertensive treatment should ensure the following: effective 24-h BP control, smooth antihypertensive effect with reduced variability; attenuation of the early morning surge in BP; maintenance of the normal circadian pattern of BP; effective therapeutic coverage in the face of suboptimal compliance; and lack of reflex activation of the sympathetic nervous system. On the basis of our current understanding, this optimum is most likely to be achieved by the use of antihypertensive agents with a long duration of action.     

门诊高血压病患者心血管危险分层与血压控制的研究

目的　了解门诊高血压病患者的心血管危险分层与血压控制的关系。方法 :随机入选门诊原发性高血压患者10 6例 ,使用统一的表格询问和记录相关病史和检测、检查结果 ,按中国高血压防治指南的心血管危险分层方法进行分层。据危险分层的差异进行相应的治疗 ,2个月后复诊。结果　 (1) 76 9%的男性患者有 2个和 2个以上的危险因素 ,而女性只有 5 7 4% (P <0 0 5 ) ;(2 )约 6 0 %高血压病患者心血管危险分层为高危和很高危 ,34 0 %为中危 ,7 5 %为低危。 (3)经过规则治疗后 ,高血压病患者血压下降至正常 ,收缩压从 16 3 77± 16 82mmHg下降到 134 5 6± 14 45mmHg ,舒张压从 94 5 5± 11 79mmHg下降为 81 2 0± 8 37mmHg(P <0 0 5 )。心血管危险分层很高危百分比下降 ,从 31 1%下降为 14 2 % (P <0 0 1)。低危百分比上升 ,从 7 5 %上升为 14 2 % (P <0 0 5 )。结论　对高血压病患者进行心血管危险分层有助于高血压及其并发症的防治     

门诊高血压病患者心血管危险分层与血压控制的研究

目的了解门诊高血压病患者的心血管危险分层与血压控制的关系.方法随机入选门诊原发性高血压患者106例,使用统一的表格询问和记录相关病史和检测、检查结果,按中国高血压防治指南的心血管危险分层方法进行分层.据危险分层的差异进行相应的治疗,2个月后复诊.结果(1)76.9%的男性患者有2个和2个以上的危险因素,而女性只有57.4%(P<0.05);(2)约60%高血压病患者心血管危险分层为高危和很高危,34.0%为中危,7.5%为低危.(3)经过规则治疗后,高血压病患者血压下降至正常,收缩压从163.77±16.82mmHg下降到134.56±14.45mmHg,舒张压从94.55±11.79mmHg下降为81.20±8.37mmHg(P<0.05).心血管危险分层很高危百分比下降,从31.1%下降为14.2%(P<0.01).低危百分比上升,从7.5%上升为14.2%(P<0.05).结论对高血压病患者进行心血管危险分层有助于高血压及其并发症的防治.     

Role of Single-Pill Combination Therapy in Optimizing Blood Pressure Control in High-Risk Hypertension Patients and Management of Treatment-Related Adverse Events

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012;14:718–726. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors in combination with other antihypertensive drugs (eg, calcium channel blockers [CCBs] and/or diuretics) are a preferred treatment option for managing uncontrolled hypertension in high-risk patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, or heart failure because RAAS inhibitors provide cardiorenal benefits in addition to lowering blood pressure (BP). However, when prescribing antihypertensive therapies to high-risk patients, physicians must be aware of the risks of treatment-related adverse events of hyperkalemia and peripheral edema associated with RAAS inhibitors and CCBs, respectively. This review discusses the use of single-pill combination antihypertensive therapy to optimize BP control in high-risk patients with CKD, diabetes, and/or heart failure and provides strategies for preventing and managing hyperkalemia and peripheral edema in this group. Single-pill combination therapy can utilize different classes of antihypertensive drugs to reduce BP while mitigating the risks of treatment-related adverse events, reducing pill burden, lowering medical cost, and improving patient compliance.     

Cocoa Flavanol Cardiovascular Effects Beyond Blood Pressure Reduction

The protective cardiovascular (CV) effect of cocoa flavanol has been a target of many recent clinical prospective and retrospective investigations. Epidemiological data in different patient cohorts revealed an association between higher intake of flavanol‐rich foods and decreased incidence of CV events, especially stroke and myocardial infarction. Cocoa flavanol has been shown to reduce systolic (2.8 mm Hg) and diastolic (2.2 mm Hg) office blood pressure (BP). Greater BP reduction has been found in hypertensive patients and people younger than 50 years. Cocoa flavanol intake exerts beneficial effects on pathophysiologic mechanisms of hypertension‐related organ damage, such as improved endothelial function, anti‐inflammatory potency, inhibition of platelet activation, and increased vasodilatory capacity. Recent clinical trials have focused on establishing a potential link between epidemiology and pathophysiology of flavanol and identified possible mechanisms for prevention of end‐organ damage in patients at CV risk. This review summarizes the available data on the antihypertensive effects of cocoa flavanol beyond BP‐BP lowering lowering effects, accentuates subgroup‐specific protective actions of cocoa according to patients' different CV risk profile, and outlines potential cocoa flavanol–associated clinical implications.     

Ambulatory Blood Pressure,Blood Pressure Variability and Antihypertensive Treatment

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is frequently employed in the clinical practice to improve the diagnosis of hypertension and the appropriateness of the decision regarding initiation of antihypertensive treatment. It is also frequently employed to check the efficacy of this treatment in conditions resembling daily life. This paper will describe the effect of a number of antihypertensive drugs on ambulatory blood pressure, based on data collected by our group in the past 10 years. It will then discuss the advantages of ambulatory blood pressure in studies on efficacy of antihypertensive drugs and the importance of this approach for definition of the trough-to-peak ratio of the antihypertensive effect. Some technical and clinical problems inherent to the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring approach will also be discussed.     

Blood Pressure Variability, Cardiovascular Risk, and Risk for Renal Disease Progression

The adverse cardiovascular consequences of high blood pressure (BP) not only depend on absolute BP values, but also on BP variability (BPV). Evidence has been provided that independently of mean BP levels, BP variations in the short- and long-term are associated with the development, progression and severity of cardiac, vascular and renal organ damage, and with an increased risk of CV events and mortality. Alterations in BPV have also been shown to be predictive of the development and progression of renal damage, which is of relevance if considering that impaired renal function in a hypertensive patient constitutes a very potent predictor of future CV events and mortality even in treated subjects. This review will address whether antihypertensive treatment should target alterations in BPV, in addition to reducing absolute BP levels, in order to achieve the highest CV and renal protection in hypertensive and renal patients.     

Sex‐Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular risk factors are frequently undertreated in women. However, it is unclear whether the prevalence of additional cardiovascular risk factors and the total cardiovascular risk differ between hypertensive men and women. There are also limited data regarding rates of blood pressure control in the two sexes outside the United States. The authors aimed to compare the cardiovascular risk profile between sexes. A total of 1810 hypertensive patients (40.4% men, age 56.5±13.5 years) attending the hypertension outpatient clinic of our department were studied. Men were more frequently smokers than women and were more heavy smokers than the latter. Serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower and serum triglyceride levels were higher in men. On the other hand, abdominal obesity and chronic kidney disease were more prevalent in women. The estimated cardiovascular risk was higher in men than in women but the prevalence of established CVD did not differ between the sexes. The percentage of patients with controlled hypertension and the number of antihypertensive medications were similar in men and women. In conclusion, hypertensive men have more adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile and greater estimated cardiovascular risk than women. However, the prevalence of established CVD does not differ between sexes. These findings further reinforce current guidelines that recommend that management of hypertension and of other cardiovascular risk factors should be as aggressive in women as in men in order to prevent cardiovascular events.