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     

Survey on treatment of hypertension and implementation of World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension risk stratification in primary care in Belgium

OBJECTIVE : To gain insight into the prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension and into the implementation of the 1999 World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of hypertension in general practice in Belgium. DESIGN : A prospective cross-sectional survey. SETTING : Primary care. METHODS : Participating physicians enrolled the first 15 men, at least 55 years old, who visited the surgery, measured their blood pressure with a validated automatic device and recorded data on age, medical history, drug utilization, cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage. Patients were considered to have hypertension when systolic blood pressure was >or= 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure was >or= 90 mmHg or when they were under antihypertensive therapy. RESULTS : Among 3761 evaluable patients, 74% were considered to be hypertensive, 80% of whom were treated with antihypertensive drugs. Blood pressure was under control in 38% of the treated patients and in 31% of all hypertensives. Among the 1316 hypertensive patients in whom risk stratification was possible, 47, 56 and 86% of the patients in, respectively, the medium, high and very high risk groups were treated with antihypertensive drugs. Among the treated patients, 46, 37 and 31%, respectively, had reached goal pressure. Within each risk category, patients were treated more frequently when baseline blood pressure was higher. Logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension grade and level of risk contributed independently to the odds of being treated. CONCLUSIONS : The results indicate that a large number of older hypertensive men are treated with antihypertensive drugs in primary care, but that the goal blood pressure is not reached in a substantial number of patients due to undertreatment. Furthermore, whereas patients at higher risk are treated more frequently than patients at lower risk, blood pressure itself remains an important factor for the initiation of antihypertensive drug therapy within each risk category.     

Overall cardiovascular risk still ignored in general practice care of hypertension

BACKGROUND: Recent guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension have emphasized the importance of total cardiovascular risk for setting the blood pressure (BP) goal to be achieved and the intensity with which it should be pursued. DESIGN: To assess the degree of BP control in hypertensives receiving long-term antihypertensive treatment according to the presence of major cardiovascular risk factors or diseases and the level of individual total cardiovascular risk, a large sample of general practitioners throughout Italy had to evaluate a random sample of their hypertensive patients. METHODS: A clinical history was collected for each patient and BP was measured three times using a reliable automatic instrument. To stratify the cardiovascular risk we used the criteria suggested by the 1999 WHO-ISH guidelines. RESULTS: Among the 1204 patients recruited (mean age 64.2 +/- 11.4 years, 663 females), only 399 patients (33.1%) had a BP lower than 140/90 mmHg. Except for male sex and previous myocardial infarction, the concomitant presence of major cardiovascular risk factors or diseases was never associated to a better control of hypertension. BP control was unrelated to individual overall cardiovascular risk: BP was < 140/90 mmHg respectively in 44.0, 37.7, 33.5 and 42.1% (P for trend = 0.54) of people aged less than 65 years with low, medium, high and very high risk and in 27.7, 25.9 and 27.1% (P for trend = 0.91) of people aged more than 65 years at medium, high and very high risk. CONCLUSIONS: BP control in Italian hypertensives is still unsatisfactory, even in patients at high and very high cardiovascular risk.     

SCORE model underestimates cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients: results of the Polish Hypertension Registry

OBJECTIVE. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of Systemic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) charts and European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC) hypertension guidelines for identifying high-risk hypertensive patients. METHODS. The data on hypertensive patients was collected using the Polish Hypertension Registry. We enrolled 636 patients (357 females and 279 males, mean age 54.4 (+/-) 7.9 years) from hypertension centres in Poland. RESULTS. Only 3.5% of the subjects had no additional risk factors. Thirty-six per cent of the patients had three or more risk factors. Metabolic syndrome was found in 40.1% of the patients. According to the SCORE charts, 9.0% of females and 27.2% of males had high to very high cardiovascular risk (p < 0.001). Taking into account risk factors and the metabolic syndrome, 55.7% of females and 56.3% of males (p = NS) had high or very high additional cardiovascular risk according to the 2007 ESH/ESC guidelines. For both females and males, the prevalence of high to very high risk was greater (p < 0.001) from the calculation based on the 2007 ESH/ESC guidelines than from the SCORE charts. Fifty-two per cent of patients classified as low to moderate risk according to the SCORE system, had high or very high risk according to the 2007 ESH/ESC guidelines. CONCLUSIONS. The SCORE charts seem to underestimate the burden of the cardiovascular risk among hypertensive patients. The cardiovascular risk, especially in the hypertensive female population, seems to be much higher when estimated according to the 2007 ESH/ESC guidelines.     

Swiss Hypertension and Risk Factor Program (SHARP): cardiovascular risk factors management in patients with type 2 diabetes in Switzerland

The prevalence of hypertension in type 2 diabetics is high, though there is no published data for Switzerland. This prospective cohort survey determined the frequency of type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with hypertension from medical practitioners in Switzerland, and collected data on the diagnostic and therapeutic work-up for cardiovascular risk patients. The Swiss Hypertension And Risk Factor Program (SHARP) is a two-part survey: The first part, I-SHARP, was a survey among 1040 Swiss physicians to assess what are the target blood pressure (BP) values and preferred treatment for their patients. The second part, SHARP, collected data from 20,956 patients treated on any of 5 consecutive days from 188 participating physicians. In I-SHARP, target BP?135/85 mmHg, as recommended by the Swiss Society of Hypertension, was the goal for 25% of physicians for hypertensives, and for 60% for hypertensive diabetics; values >140/90 mmHg were targeted by 19% for hypertensives, respectively 9% for hypertensive diabetics. In SHARP, 30% of the 20,956 patients enrolled were hypertensive (as defined by the doctors) and 10% were diabetic (67% of whom were also hypertensive). Six per cent of known hypertensive patients and 4% of known hypertensive diabetics did not receive any antihypertensive treatment. Diabetes was not treated pharmacologically in 20% of diabetics. Proteinuria was not screened for in 45% of known hypertensives and in 29% of known hypertensive diabetics. In Switzerland, most physicians set target BP levels higher than recommended in published guidelines. In this country with easy access to medical care, high medical density and few financial constraints, appropriate detection and treatment for cardiovascular risk factors remain highly problematic.     

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the elderly: the Three City study

OBJECTIVE: To study management of hypertension in the elderly in a large population-based study and to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and factors related to awareness, treatment, and control. DESIGN: The Three City study, a population-based study among 9693 non-institutionalized individuals aged 65 years and over. METHODS: Blood pressure was measured with an automated electronic device, and treatment assessed, during home interview. Hypertension was defined by a mean blood pressure of two measurements superior to or equal to 160/95 mmHg and/or the intake of antihypertensive medications. RESULTS: In the final working sample of 9090 people, 62% were hypertensive. More than two-thirds were aware of their hypertension and 81% were treated with antihypertensive drugs. Among 4573 treated hypertensive participants, 35% had a blood pressure over 160/95 mmHg and 69% over 140/90 mmHg. Women were more frequently aware of their hypertension, more frequently treated, and more frequently controlled than men. A history of cardiovascular disease, high body mass index, diabetes and high frequency of visits to the general practitioner were related to higher percentages of awareness and treatment. Among treated hypertensive patients, those with a history of cardiovascular events or who visited their general practitioner more often or who more often had their blood pressure measured were more frequently controlled. Awareness was strongly associated with treatment, but was inversely related to control of hypertension among treated hypertensive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Management of hypertension, and particularly its control among treated hypertensive patients, needs to be improved in people aged 65 years and over.     

中国心血管内科医师高血压情况和心血管病发病风险

目的 了解中国心血管内科医师高血压患病、治疗和控制情况,评估心血管内科医师心血管疾病发病的风险,为制定干预策略、促进人群健康提供依据.方法 对中国内地31个省、自治区、直辖市,共386家综合性医院心血管内科共4032名心血管内科医师进行高血压患病率、知晓率、治疗率和控制率的流行病学调查,并对冠心病和缺血性心血管疾病的发病风险进行评估.结果 我国心血管内科医师的高血压患病率为13.1%.心血管内科医师的高血压知晓率为81.7%,治疗率为69.6%,控制率44.6%.心血管内科医师55岁之前高血压患病率男性高于女性,55岁以后两性之间差异无统计学意义.高血压组Framinham冠心病风险量表的10年冠心病风险平均为0.08,非高血压组平均为0.03.国人10年缺血性心血管病风险量表的10年绝对风险高血压组平均为0.03,非高血压组平均为0.01.结论 中国心血管内科医师高血压的知晓率、治疗率、控制率均不够理想.患高血压医师的心血管疾病风险较高,有必要提倡其对血压情况的自我监测.

Abstract：

Objective To observe the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rate of hypertension and to evaluate the 10-year absolute risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic cardiovascular disease (ICVD) in Chinese cardiovascular physicians. Methods A total of 4032cardiovascular physicians (28 to 79 years old) from 386 hospitals in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities were randomly selected and received an epidemiologic survey of prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension and evaluations of CHD and ICVD risk. Results The prevalence of hypertension in Chinese cardiovascular physicians was 13.1%. The awareness rate of hypertension in Chinese cardiovascular physicians was 81.7%. Hypertension treatment rate was 69. 6% and blood pressure control rate was 44. 6%. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in male physicians than in female physicians before the age of 55 years old. Ten-year absolute risk of CHD and ICVD was 0. 08 and 0. 03 in hypertensive physicians compared to 0. 03 and 0. 01 in non-hypertensive physicians. Conclusions The results show suboptimal awareness, treatment and control rate in Chinese cardiovascular physicians for their own hypertension status. Physicians suffering from hypertension face higher risk for cardiovascular disease. It is therefore necessary to improve the self-monitoring of blood pressure in Chinese cardiovascular physicians.     

The estimation of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients is not modified by management of the hypertension

OBJECTIVES: To compare antihypertensive therapeutic strategies and efficacy whether the physicians were aware or not of the calculated cardiovascular risk at 10 years obtained from the Framingham equation. It was also possible to evaluate the concordance of the general physicians estimation of the cardiovascular risk with the calculated percentage. METHODS: The participation of 953 general physicians to the study allowed to achieve an estimation of the absolute cardiovascular risk for 1,243 hypertensives. Patients were randomised in 2 groups according to the knowledge or not by the physicians of the calculated risk. The therapeutic strategy included a monotherapy (Fosinopril 20 mg/days) for a follow up of 8 weeks, with the possibility to increase the treatment after 4 weeks (Fosinopril + hydrochlorotiazide). To be included, patients had to be more than 18 and less than 75 years, and a blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg. Estimated and calculated cardiovascular risk at 10 years, were classified according to the 1999 WHO-ISH guidelines: low risk < 15%, medium risk 15-20%, high risk 20-30%, very high risk > 30%. RESULTS: In this population, aged 60 +/- 10 years, with 54% of men, the concordance between estimated risk and calculated risk was of 35%. This concordance was better for the "low risk" and "very high risk", but remains inferior to 50%. The determinants of concordance were: gender (male), smoking and a low HDL cholesterol. After 8 weeks of treatment, no difference was observed between the 2 groups concerning final blood pressure level, percentage of normalised patients and number of patients with bi-therapy. CONCLUSIONS: General physicians estimation of cardiovascular risk at 10 years of hypertensive subjects has a bad concordance with the calculated risk according to Framingham equation. The results of this study indicate that the estimation of cardiovascular risk of hypertensive subjects does not modify the management of hypertension.     

Cardiovascular risk factors in patients discharged from departments of internal medicine---the Italian FADOI-2 study

Background: The goal of this study was to describe mean levels, distribution, and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors among patients admitted to departments of internal medicine. Methods: Clinical records were obtained from patients discharged during the last week of October 1999 in 345 departments of internal medicine in Italy. A number of cardiovascular risk factors, diagnoses, and personal characteristics were analyzed in a total of 7476 patients aged 35 years or older. Not all of these personal characteristics were available for each patient. Results: In general, the levels of cardiovascular risk factors present in patients were high, with hypertension and diabetes the most frequently encountered. The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) over 10 years was estimated using an Italian algorithm that provided high probability levels, mainly among cardiovascular patients (410 per 1000 in 10 years on average in both genders). Overall, 55% of the men and 50% of the women had levels above 200 per 1000 in 10 years, corresponding to the conventional threshold for intensive individual intervention on risk factors. At discharge, about 70% of hypertensive patients were being treated for their condition, while the same was true of only 25% of dyslipidemic patients. Conclusions: Although data are incomplete, the coronary risk profile of patients admitted to departments of internal medicine suggests a high probability of future events. Treatment of risk factors amenable to effective action is still far from optimal, especially in the area of elevated blood lipids.     

The Rise and Fall of Hypertension: Lessons Learned from Eastern Europe

Hypertension is a progressive cardiovascular syndrome that arises from many differing, but interrelated, etiologies. Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular disorder, affecting 20% to 50% of the adult population in developed countries. Arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and death. Epidemiologic data have shown that control of hypertension is achieved in only a small percentage of hypertensive patients. Findings from the World Health Organization project Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Diseases (MONICA) showed a remarkably high prevalence (about 65%) of hypertension in Eastern Europeans. There is virtually no difference however, between the success rate in controlling hypertension when comparing Eastern and Western European populations. Diagnosing hypertension depends on both population awareness of the dangers of hypertension and medical interventions aimed at the detecting elevated blood pressure, even in asymptomatic patients. Medical compliance with guidelines for the treatment of hypertension is variable throughout Eastern Europe. Prevalence of hypertension increases with age, and the management of hypertension in elderly is a significant problem. The treatment of hypertension demands a comprehensive approach to the patient with regard to cardiovascular risk and individualization of hypertensive therapy.     

Lack of control of high blood pressure and treatment recommendations in Canada

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major risk factor for death that affects many Canadians, but only 16% of hypertensive Canadians are treated and have their hypertension controlled. While the control rate is very low, the 2001 Canadian Hypertension Recommendations do not recommend that low risk hypertensive patients be started on pharmacotherapy, and pharmacotherapy is not recommended for people for whom there is no demonstrable benefit from randomized, controlled trails. OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of hypertensive patients who are appropriately managed according to the 2001 Canadian Hypertension Recommendations. METHODS: Data from the Canadian Heart Health Survey, which surveyed a cross-sectional population (n=23,129) between 1986 and 1992, were used to determine the proportion of nondiabetic hypertensive patients who are managed according to the 2001 Canadian Hypertension Recommendations. Hypertensive patients not recommended to receive pharmacotherapy include those without risk factors and target organ damage, with a diastolic blood pressure of 90 to 99 mmHg and a systolic blood pressure of less than 160 mmHg. People with diastolic blood pressures of less than 90 mmHg who have systolic blood pressures of 140 to 159 mmHg are also not recommended to have pharmacotherapy. Patients prescribed antihypertensive therapy who had blood pressure controlled to less than 140/90 mmHg were assessed as having their hypertension managed appropriately, as were those who were not treated and were not recommended to be prescribed treatment. RESULTS: There were 58,813 (1.7%) hypertensive patients who did not have target organ damage or additional risk factors, and had a systolic blood pressure of less than 160 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 99 mmHg. Twenty four per cent of hypertensive persons (831,787) had a systolic blood pressure of 140 to 160 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg. About 25% (23.6%+1.7%) of hypertensive Canadians in the Canadian Heart Health Survey are not recommended to be prescribed antihypertensive therapy according to the 2001 Canadian Hypertension Recommendations. Sixteen per cent of hypertensive patients were treated and had their blood pressures controlled (blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg). Therefore, about 41% (ie, 16%+25%) of hypertensive patients are appropriately managed according to the 2001 Canadian Hypertension Recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the Canadian Heart Health survey indicate that there are a striking number of Canadians with untreated high blood pressure (59%) who probably do not have their hypertension managed according to the 2001 Canadian Hypertension Recommendations. Greater efforts are required to identify people with hypertension, and to ensure that they are managed according to the best available evidence.     

Rationale for Establishing a Mechanism to Increase Reimbursement to Hypertension Specialists

Hypertension is an important public health problem both in the United States and worldwide, contributing to many forms of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Although great strides have been made in the proportion of the US population that achieves recommended blood pressure targets, many Americans still have undertreated and uncontrolled blood pressure that increases the risk of expensive strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and dialysis. Because hypertension is a common but heterogeneous and sometimes complex condition, the American Society of Hypertension (ASH) has, since 1999, designated physicians as “ASH Hypertension Specialists.” Such Hypertension Specialists (as defined by ASH's Specialist Program) are fully licensed physicians with a primary board certification who are competent in all aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, as evidenced by passing a specific examination on these topics offered by ASH's Specialist Program. These physicians have a proven track record of controlling blood pressure in “resistant hypertensive” patients, the general population whom they serve, and educating other physicians to help them achieve higher blood pressure control rates among their patient populations. This report sets out a rationale for increased reimbursement for care of hypertensive patients by ASH‐Designated Hypertension Specialists.     

Hypertension prevalence, awareness, control and association with metabolic abnormalities in the San Marino population: the SMOOTH study

BACKGROUND: The aim of the SMOOTH (San Marino Observational Outlooking Trial on Hypertension) study was to explore hypertension awareness, treatment and control and the associated metabolic abnormalities and risk factors in the population of San Marino, a small state in the Mediterranean area, for which limited evidence is available. METHODS: Nine general practitioners enrolled 4590 consecutive subjects (44% of the San Marino population age 40-75 years), seen in their office by collecting history, physical and laboratory data and office blood pressure (BP) measurements. RESULTS: Of these subjects, 2446 were normotensive and 2144 hypertensive; 62.3% of hypertensive patients were aware of their condition, 58.6% were treated (monotherapy 31.5%, combination therapy 27.1%), and 21.7% were controlled. Hypertension awareness and treatment were more frequent above age 50 and in females; BP control was similarly low in both genders. As compared to normotensives, hypertensive subjects were less frequently smokers (20.1 versus 27.8%), had greater body mass index (28.1 +/- 4.5 versus 25.8 +/- 3.7 g/m), and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (15.8 versus 6.3%), lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and higher prevalence of increased blood total cholesterol (66.1 versus 51.3%), triglycerides and serum uric acid. Values of subjects with 'high-normal' blood pressure were closer to those of hypertensive subjects. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects, and in treated than in untreated hypertensives. CONCLUSIONS: Even in a small Mediterranean country with high health-care standards, hypertension awareness, treatment and control are inadequate and hypertension clusters with metabolic abnormalities and risk factors as in non-Mediterranean areas.     

Impact of hypertension in cardiac diseases in Spain. The CARDIOTENS Study 1999

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prevalence and control of hypertensive patients with associated cardiac diseases in Spain. METHODS: All the 32,051 outpatients seen the same day by 1,159 primary physicians (79%) and cardiologists (21%) were prospectively included in a database including history of cardiac disease (heart failure, coronary disease or atrial fibrillation), casual blood pressure and ongoing treatments. RESULTS: Hypertension was present in 33% of the whole group and 19% had both hypertension and a cardiac disease. Hypertension was present in 77% of the patients with heart failure, in 66% of those with coronary diseases and in 66% with atrial fibrillation. Less than 60% of the hypertensive patients with heart failure were treated with an angiotensin or a converting enzyme inhibitor. Thirty-two percent of the hypertensive patients with coronary disease received a betablocker and 25% of the hypertensive patients with atrial fibrillation were on oral anticoagulation.Less than 20% of the patients with hypertension and cardiac disease had blood pressure levels under 130/85 mmHg as recommended by international guidelines. Patients seen by primary care physicians were found to be slightly better treated than those under cardiologists' care. CONCLUSIONS: High blood pressure is associated with heart failure, coronary disease and atrial fibrillation in a high percentage of patients. The blood pressure levels recommended by current guidelines for cardiac hypertensives were attained in less than 20% of the cases. The control of blood pressure in these high risk hypertensive patients was low and the use of appropriate pharmacological treatment was poor.     

The eye in hypertension

Hypertension has a range of effects on the eye. Hypertensive retinopathy refers to retinal microvascular signs that develop in response to raised blood pressure. Signs of hypertensive retinopathy are frequently seen in adults 40 years and older, and are predictive of incident stroke, congestive heart failure, and cardiovascular mortality--independently of traditional risk factors. Hypertension is also a major risk factor for the development of other retinal vascular diseases, such as retinal vein and artery occlusion, and ischaemic optic neuropathy. High blood pressure increases the risk of both development of diabetic retinopathy and its progression. Adequate control of blood pressure has been proven in randomised clinical trials to reduce vision loss associated with diabetic retinopathy. Finally, hypertension has been implicated in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Recognition of the ocular effects of blood pressure could allow physicians to better manage patients with hypertension, and to monitor its end-organ effects.     

The impact of plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels on cardiovascular risk stratification of hypertensive patients: results of the ICEBERG study

The Intensive/Initial Cardiovascular Examination Regarding Blood Pressure Levels: Evaluation of Risk Groups (ICEBERG) study focused on the impact of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) measurement on cardiovascular risk evaluation. The ICEBERG study comprised 2 subprotocols. Each subprotocol had 2 patient profiles: patients previously diagnosed with essential hypertension and under medical treatment and patients with systolic blood pressure 130 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic blood pressure 85 mm Hg or higher, with no treatment for at least 3 months before inclusion. Measurement of hs-CRP and cardiovascular risk stratification were performed according to European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC) guidelines. A total of 1817 patients were analyzed. In 1 group, the percentage of patients in "high" plus "very high" added-risk groups increased from 59.2% to 72.7% when hs-CRP data were added to routine serum biochemistries. In another, the increase was from 66.9% to 77.9%, whereas in a third group, it changed from 65.1% to 77.2%. The use of plasma hs-CRP levels might help in stratifying hypertensive patients into specific risk groups and modifying preventive approaches.     

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with hypertension treated in general practice in Spain: an assessment of blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control and accuracy of diagnosis

This study was designed to evaluate whether primary care physicians in Spain accurately diagnose the metabolic syndrome in hypertensive patients, to define the profile and management of these patients in clinical practice, and to ascertain the level of blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control. Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional survey involving 12,954 patients with hypertension (Prevención Cardiovascular en Espa?a en Atención Primaria: Intervención Sobre el Colesterol en Hipertensión [PRESCOT] study), wherein 52% of the cohort fulfilled the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel criteria for the metabolic syndrome. The majority of patients (54.6%) had 3 risk factors, 32.4% had 4, and 13% had 5 risk factors. Physician diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome was poor, with 43.7% of physicians missing the diagnosis and 12.9% wrongly diagnosing the metabolic syndrome. Blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control rates were very low, with only 4.7% of metabolic syndrome patients achieving control for both blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol vs 13.5% for non-metabolic syndrome patients (P<.0001). These findings demonstrate that the metabolic syndrome is common in patients with hypertension and that it is generally poorly diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.     

High blood pressure and diabetes mellitus: are all antihypertensive drugs created equal?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the available data to assess the benefits of antihypertensive therapy in hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A MEDLINE search of English-language articles published until June 1999 was undertaken with the use of the terms diabetes mellitus, hypertension or blood pressure, and therapy. Pertinent articles cited in the identified reports were also reviewed. Included were only prospective randomized studies of more than 12 months' duration that evaluated the effect of drug treatment on morbidity and mortality in diabetic hypertensive patients. We estimated the risk associated with combination of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and the effect of treatment on morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: The coexistence of diabetes mellitus doubled the risk of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality, and total mortality in hypertensive patients (approximate relative risk of 1.73-2.77 for cardiovascular events, 2.25-3.66 for cardiovascular mortality, and 1.73-2.18 for total mortality). Intensive blood pressure control to levels lower than 130/85 mm Hg was beneficial in diabetic hypertensive patients. All 4 drug classes-diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and calcium antagonists-were effective in reducing cardiovascular events in diabetic hypertensive patients. In elderly diabetic patients with isolated systolic hypertension, calcium antagonists reduced the rate of cardiac end points by 63%, stroke by 73%, and total mortality by 55%. In more than 60% of diabetic hypertensive patients, combination therapy was required to control blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive control of blood pressure reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients regardless of whether low-dose diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or calcium antagonists were used as a first-line treatment. A combination of more than 1 drug is frequently required to control blood pressure and may be more beneficial than monotherapy.     

The importance of diastolic blood pressure in predicting cardiovascular risk

Brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP) is the overall best predictor of future cardiovascular risk for the entire hypertensive population; however, there is much that can be learned from assessing diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in relation to simultaneous levels of SBP, because the former is not distorted by pressure amplification. Low DBP in very young adults (mean age 20 years), presenting as isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), results from elevation in stroke volume and/or arterial stiffness. This subtype of hypertension has a marked male predominance, occurs twice as frequently as essential hypertension, and is potentially not a benign condition. In contrast, isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) in young adults (mean age of 40 years) with IDH occurs predominantly in men with a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Indeed, persons with IDH frequently evolve into systolic-diastolic hypertension and are potentially at increased risk for future diabetes and cardiovascular complications. The older age population with ISH and low DBP (mean age ≥60 years of age) has a high prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, increased ventricular-arterial stiffness, and a tendency for diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. Finally, concordant very high DBP, especially in older persons, defines potential hypertensive urgencies, emergencies, secondary forms of hypertension, and other high peripheral resistance states.