Antihypertensive medication use and blood pressure control among treated older adults

The association of different antihypertensive regimens with blood pressure (BP) control is not well‐described among community‐dwelling older adults with low comorbidity. We examined antihypertensive use and BP control in 10 062 treated hypertensives from Australia and the United States (US) using baseline data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial. Renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) drugs were the most prevalently used antihypertensive in both countries (Australia: 81.7% of all regimens; US: 62.9% of all regimens; P < .001). Diuretics were the next most commonly used antihypertensive in both countries, but were more often included in regimens of US participants (48.9%, vs 33.3% of regimens in Australia; P < .001). Among all antihypertensive classes and possible combinations, monotherapy with a RAS drug was the most common regimen in both countries, but with higher prevalence in Australian than US participants (35.9% vs 20.9%; P < .001). For both monotherapy and combination users, BP control rates across age, ethnicity, and sex were consistently lower in Australian than US participants. After adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, and BMI, significantly lower BP control rates remained in Australian compared to US participants for the most commonly used classes and regimens (RAS blocker monotherapy: BP control = 45.5% vs 54.2%; P = .002; diuretic monotherapy: BP control = 45.2% vs 64.5%; P = .001; and RAS blocker/diuretic combo: BP control = 50.2% vs 65.6%; P = .001). Our findings highlight variation in antihypertensive use in older adults treated for hypertension, with implications for BP control. Differences in BP control that were observed may be influenced, in part, by reasons other than choice of specific regimens.     

低舒张压的单纯收缩期高血压研究新进展

在有些高龄患者中,会出现舒张压（DBP）＜60mmHg高血压患者,即低DBP的单纯收缩期高血压（ISH）。越来越多的证据表明DBP＜70mmHg对机体是不利的,而低DBP的ISH患者常具有更多的心血管危险因素和更多的心血管事件风险,成为老年高血压降压治疗的难点,使用硝酸酯类药物进行治疗可能是一个有益的选择。     

Hypertension in older adults: Assessment,management, and challenges

Hypertension in older adults is related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. The global burden of hypertension is increasing due to an aging population and increasing prevalence of obesity, and is estimated to affect one third of the world's population by 2025. Adverse outcomes in older adults are compounded by mechanical hemodynamic changes, arterial stiffness, neurohormonal and autonomic dysregulation, and declining renal function. This review highlights the current evidence and summarizes recent guidelines on hypertension, pertaining to older adults. Management strategies for hypertension in older adults must consider the degree of frailty, increasingly complex medical comorbidities, and psycho-social factors, and must therefore be individualized. Non-pharmacological lifestyle interventions should be encouraged to mitigate the risk of developing hypertension, and as an adjunctive therapy to reduce the need for medications. Pharmacological therapy with diuretics, renin-angiotensin system blockers, and calcium channel blockers have all shown benefit on cardiovascular outcomes in older patients. Given the economic and public health burden of hypertension in the United States and globally, it is critical to address lifestyle modifications in younger generations to prevent hypertension with age.     

瑞舒伐他汀对老年高血压患者左心室舒张功能的影响

目的:评价瑞舒伐他汀对老年高血压患者左心室舒张功能的影响。方法:选取服用降压药的老年高血压患者128例,随机分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组给予口服瑞舒伐他汀6个月,分别测定两组患者治疗前后左心室后壁舒张末期厚度(LVPWT)、室间隔舒张末期厚度(IVST)、舒张早期峰值流速(E)、舒张晚期峰值流速(A)和E/A值,同时测定两组患者治疗前后血压、血脂的变化。结果:与治疗前相比,治疗组与对照组患者的SBP,DBP以及脉压差均明显降低(均P0.05);治疗组患者治疗后血清TC、TG、LDL-C均显著降低(P0.01),同时治疗组患者治疗后LVPWT、IVST、A均显著降低(P0.01);E明显升高(P0.01);E/A值明显升高(P0.05)。而对照组这些指标未见显著差异。结论:老年高血压患者在降压的同时联用瑞舒伐他汀能改善左心室舒张功能。     

Prevalence of isolated diastolic hypertension and associated risk factors among adults in Kanpur, India

BackgroundIsolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) is a largely unrecognized subtype of hypertension, more commonly seen in the younger age group.Aims(1) To determine the prevalence of IDH in the adult population of Kanpur district. (2) To study the associated risk factors of IDH.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 801 subjects, aged 20 years and above, using multistage stratified random sampling technique.ResultsThe prevalence of IDH was 4.5%, which was 6.2% in men and 3.1% in women. A significant proportion of IDH was seen in the 40–49 years age group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the associated risk factors showed that gender, physical activity and BMI were significantly associated with IDH.ConclusionIsolated diastolic hypertension is an emerging problem in developing countries. IDH is more common among men, sedentary individuals and those with a higher BMI.     

中老年人群甘油三酯葡萄糖乘积指数与高血压的关联研究

目的]探讨中国中老年人群中甘油三酯葡萄糖乘积(TyG)指数与高血压患病风险的相关性,为高血压的防治提供科学依据。 [方法]数据来源于2011年中国健康与养老追踪调查(CHARLS)数据库,采用多阶段分层抽样方法选择研究对象。采用限制性立方样条回归模型分析TyG指数与高血压风险的剂量-反应关系。采用多因素非条件Logistic回归模型评估TyG指数与高血压患病风险之间的关联。 [结果]共9 987例研究对象纳入分析,平均年龄为(59.16±9.43)岁,其中男性4 707(47.13%)例。限制性立方样条回归模型结果显示,随着TyG指数的升高,高血压的患病风险增加,呈线性关联(总体关联检验P＜0.000 1,非线性关联检验P＝0.201 9)。多因素Logistic回归模型结果表明,与Q1(TyG指数＜8.23)相比,Q2(8.23≤TyG指数＜8.59)、Q3(8.59≤TyG指数＜9.04)和Q4(TyG指数≥9.04)时,高血压的患病风险[OR(95%CI)]分别为1.09(0.95～1.26)、1.53(1.33～1.76)、1.77(1.52～2.06)。 [结论]随着TyG指数的升高,高血压的患病风险逐渐增加。TyG指数可能是高血压患病的独立危险因素。     

Hemodynamic characterization of hypertensive patients with an exaggerated orthostatic blood pressure variation

Exaggerated orthostatic blood pressure variation (EOV) is a poorly understood phenomenon related to high cardiovascular risk. We aimed to determine whether hypertensive patients with EOV have a distinct hemodynamic pattern, assessed through impedance cardiography. Methods: In treated hypertensive patients, we measured the cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) in the supine and standing (after 3 minutes) positions, defining three groups according to BP variation: 1) Normal orthostatic BP variation (NOV): standing systolic BP (stSBP)-supine systolic BP (suSBP) between ?20 and 20 mmHg and standing diastolic BP (stDBP)-supine diastolic BP (suDBP) between ?10 and 10 mmHg; 2) orthostatic hypotension (OHypo): stSBP-suSBP≤-20 or stDBP-suDBP≤-10 mmHg; 3) orthostatic hypertension (OHyper): stSBP-suSBP≥20 or stDBP-suDBP≥10 mmHg. We performed multivariable analyses to determine the association of hemodynamic variables with EOV. Results: We included 186 patients. Those with OHyper had lower suDBP and higher orthostatic SVRI variation compared to NOV. In multivariable analyses, orthostatic HR variation (OR = 1.06 (95%CI 1.01–1.13), p = 0.03) and orthostatic SVRI variation (OR = 1.16 (95%CI 1.06–1.28), p = 0.002) were independently related to OHyper. No variables were independently associated with OHypo. Conclusion: Patients with OHyper have a distinct hemodynamic pattern, with an exaggerated increase in SVRI and HR when standing.     

The association between antidepressant use and orthostatic hypotension in older people: a matched cohort study

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is often reported as a significant potential adverse effect of antidepressant use but the association between phasic blood pressure (BP) and antidepressants has not yet been investigated. This cross-sectional study compares continuously measured phasic BP and prevalence of OH in a cohort of antidepressant users ≥50 years compared with an age- and sex-matched cohort not taking antidepressants. OH was defined as a drop in systolic BP ≥ 20 mm Hg or in diastolic BP ≥ 10 mm Hg at 30 seconds after standing, measured using continuous beat-to-beat finometry. Multilevel time × group interactions revealed significantly greater systolic and diastolic BP drop in antidepressant users than nonusers at 30 seconds after stand. The prevalence of OH among antidepressant users was 31% (63/206), compared with 17% in nonusers (X² = 9.7; P = .002). Unadjusted logistic regression models demonstrated that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use was associated with OH at an odds ratio of 2.11 (95% confidence interval: 1.25–3.57); P = .005, and this association was not attenuated when covariates including cardiac disease and depressive symptom burden were added. There was no statistically significant association between serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor or tricyclic antidepressant use and OH in unadjusted models although the study was not powered to detect changes within these subgroups. Older people taking antidepressants have a two-fold higher prevalence of OH than nonusers, highlighting the importance of screening the older antidepressant user for OH and dizziness and rationalizing medications to reduce the risk of falls within this vulnerable cohort.     

Association of isolated diastolic hypertension based on different guideline definitions with incident cardiovascular risk in a Chinese rural cohort

The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline lowered the threshold (systolic blood pressure [SBP] <130 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] ≥80 mm Hg) for isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), whereas the 2018 Chinese guideline still recommends the old threshold (SBP <140 mm Hg and DBP ≥90 mm Hg). This study aimed to investigate the association between IDH, as defined by both guidelines, and the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rural areas of northeast China. This prospective study included participants whose baseline data were collected between 2004 and 2006. The exclusion criteria were baseline CVD, incomplete data, and systolic hypertension. The primary end point was incident CVD, a composite end point including nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal stroke, and CVD death. Multivariate Cox models were used to evaluate the association of IDH with CVD risk. The authors analyzed 19 688 participants (7140 participants with IDH) according to the ACC/AHA guideline. Compared with normotensive participants, individuals with ACC/AHA‐defined IDH were at a high risk of CVD (HR = 1.177, 95% CI: 1.035–1.339). A similar difference in CVD risk was noted when normotensive participants were compared with those with IDH, determined based on the 2018 Chinese guideline (HR = 1.218, 95% CI: 1.050–1.413). Similar results were found in participants who did not take antihypertensives at baseline. Moreover, IDH defined by either guideline was significantly associated with nonfatal MI. ACC/AHA‐defined IDH was associated with a risk of CVD, implying that blood pressure management should be improved in rural areas of China.     

高血压患者血清总胆红素水平与血压变异性的关系

目的 探讨血清总胆红素水平对高血压患者的血压水平及血压变异性的影响.方法 本研究为回顾性观察性研究,连续纳入在2019年9月至2020年3月在宣城市人民医院心血管内科住院并确诊为高血压的患者,并完善动态血压及动态心电图检查.本研究以动态血压测量参数中24 h收缩压标准差和24 h舒张压标准差作为血压变异性指标.应用多元...     

Alteration of left ventricular diastolic filling in hypertensive patients: Effects of nitrendipine and atenolol

This study was undertaken to determine the chronic effects ofa long-acting calcium-channel blocker (nitrendipine) on restingleft ventricular filling abnormalities in ten patients withessential hypertension. Radionuclide left ventricular curvesof these hypertensive patients were compared with the curvesof twelve normal volunteers and of eight asymptomatic olderpatients. The curves were analyzed for ejection fraction, peakfilling rate (normalized for end-diastolic counts and for strokecounts), time to peak filling rate and filling fraction in thefirst-third of diastole normalized for cycle length. Heart rateand ejection fraction were similar in both control groups andhypertensive patients before and after nitrendipine. Beforenitrendipine, Before nitrendipine, diastolic filling parameterswere significantly different in the hypertensive patients ascompared with the volunteers and with the volunteers and withthe asymptomatic aged patients: peak filling rate was lower,time to peak filling rate was longer and the first-third fillingfraction was smaller. After six weeks of nitrendipine therapy,systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly.After nitrendipine, the time to peak filling rate decreasedand the first-third filling fraction and the peak filling rate(normalized for stroke counts) increased significantly. Theacute oral administration of 100 mg atenolol induced a furtherdecrease in systolic blood pressure and a significant decreasein heart rate. The effect of combining nitrendipine and atenololon diastolic indexes was a preserved effect on time to peakfilling rate and on the first-third filling fraction. Theseresults suggest that short-term therapy with nitrendipine improvesearly diastolic dysfunction in hypertensives; the addition ofa beta-blocking agent further improved the early diastolic indexes.     

The association between hypertension treatment,control, and functional status

The authors examined the relationship between hypertension treatment, control, and functional status among 356 “uncomplicated” hypertensive patients receiving care in 16 teaching hospital group ractices. Antihypertensive drug therapy and blood pressure control were determined from a medical record review. Functional status (health perceptions, mental health, role, and physical functioning) was assessed with a questionnaire. After adjustment for potential confounders, hypertensive patients without drug therapy were less likely to have impairment in mental health functioning, compared with patients receiving one or more than one antihypertensive medication (9% versus 25% and 20%, respectively, p<0.05). However, uncontrolled hypertensive patients were more likely to have role limitations than patients controlled only at the end or throughout the record review period (51% versus 39% and 36%, respectively, p<0.05). Patients controlled throughout the review period had the least impairment for each measure of functional status. These preliminary findings suggest that pharmacologic therapy may have a negative influence on the mental health of “uncomplicated” hypertensive patients, but that the dual goals of blood pressure control and positive functional status are not incompatible. Presented in part at the American Federation for Clinical Research Annual Meeting, May 1986. Supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation or the Rand Corporation. Dr. Siscovick was a Teaching and Research Scholar of the American College of Physicians and an NHLBI Preventive Cardiology Academic Awardee.     

Diastolic blood pressure and the risk of primary cardiac arrest among pharmacologically treated hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have raised the concern that the reduction of diastolic blood pressure below 85 mm Hg among treated hypertensive patients may have cardiac hazards. However, these reports have not fully assessed potential confounding from coexisting cardiovascular disease. METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study to examine the relation between treated diastolic blood pressure and the risk of primary cardiac arrest among hypertensive patients free of clinically diagnosed cardiovascular disease. Cases were hypertensive enrollees of the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, an HMO, who had a primary cardiac arrest between 1977 and 1990 (n=80). Control patients were a stratified random sample of hypertensive enrollees (n=426). Ambulatory-care records were reviewed to assess blood pressures and other clinical characteristics. Medication use was assessed through the HMO computerized pharmacy database. RESULTS: Logistic regression models suggested a curvilinear relation between the level of treated diastolic blood pressure and the risk of primary cardiac arrest, after adjustment for pretreatment diastolic blood pressure, antihypertensive therapy, and other potential confounders. Compared with a treated diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg, a treated diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg was associated with a small increase in risk (relative risk [RR] 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0, 1.6), 75 mm Hg was associated with a modest increase in risk (RR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2, 2.1), and 70 mm Hg was associated with more than a twofold increase in the risk of primary cardiac arrest (RR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4; 3.8). There was little evidence of effect modification by pretreatment diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support available evidence that among hypertensive patients a treated diastolic blood pressure level below 85 mm Hg is associated with cardiac hazards. The research reported in this article was supported by grant HL42456-03 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.     

Frailty in Chinese older adults with hypertension: Prevalence,associated factors,and prediction for long‐term mortality

Hypertension and frailty are associated and often coexist in older adults. Few studies have examined the association between hypertension and frailty in Chinese population. We explored the prevalence of and the factors associated with frailty as well as whether frailty could identify patients at risk of adverse outcomes among older adults with hypertension. Data were from the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging. A total of 1111 hypertensive participants aged ≥60 years old who completed the comprehensive geriatrics assessment were included. All participants were followed up for 8 years. The total number of deaths was 604. Frailty was assessed by the 68‐item frailty index. Stepwise forward logistic regression was used to explore the association between the associated factors and frailty in hypertensive participants. The prediction for mortality was assessed using the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Two hundred and eighteen older adults were determined as frail (prevalence rate: 19.6%). Frail older adults with hypertension had worse physical performance, worse psychological, and social function, as well as worse lifestyle habits, compared to nonfrail older adults with hypertension. Chair stand test failure, balance test failure, fracture, disability, depression, and physical frailty measured with modified frailty phenotype were independently associated with frailty. Frailty was associated with a higher 8‐year mortality, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.40, adjusted for age and sex, HR = 2.61. Frailty is associated with poorer physical function and higher mortality in community‐dwelling hypertensive older adults in China. These findings emphasize the importance and need for frailty intervention and prevention in older adults with hypertension.     

Persistence on Treatment and Blood Pressure Control with Different First-Line Antihypertensive Treatments: A Prospective Evaluation

We enrolled 347 hypertensive patients, randomly allocated them to different first-line treatments, and followed-up for 24 months. Persistence on treatment was significantly higher in patients treated with ARBs (68.5%) and ACE inhibitors (64.5%) vs. CCBs (51.6%), β-blockers (44.8%), and diuretics (34.4%). No ARB, ACE inhibitor, β-blocker, or diuretic was associated with a greater persistence in therapy as compared with the other molecules used in each therapeutic class. The rate of persistence was significantly higher in patients treated with lercanidipine vs. other CCBs (59.3% vs. 46.6%). Systolic and diastolic BP decreased more in patients treated with ARBs (-11.2/-5.8 mmHg), ACE inhibitors (-10.5/-5.1 mmHg), and CCBs (-8.5/-4.6 mmHg) when compared to ß-blockers (-4.0/-2.3 mmHg) and diuretics (-2.3/-2.1 mmHg).