Hypertension: Anonymous00195

Craig WJ, Mangels AR, Anonymous00195. · Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, USA. · J Am Diet Assoc. · Pubmed #19562864 No free full text.

Abstract: It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes. A vegetarian diet is defined as one that does not include meat (including fowl) or seafood, or products containing those foods. This article reviews the current data related to key nutrients for vegetarians including protein, n-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, and vitamins D and B-12. A vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients. In some cases, supplements or fortified foods can provide useful amounts of important nutrients. An evidence- based review showed that vegetarian diets can be nutritionally adequate in pregnancy and result in positive maternal and infant health outcomes. The results of an evidence-based review showed that a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease. Vegetarians also appear to have lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than nonvegetarians. Furthermore, vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates. Features of a vegetarian diet that may reduce risk of chronic disease include lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol and higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy products, fiber, and phytochemicals. The variability of dietary practices among vegetarians makes individual assessment of dietary adequacy essential. In addition to assessing dietary adequacy, food and nutrition professionals can also play key roles in educating vegetarians about sources of specific nutrients, food purchase and preparation, and dietary modifications to meet their needs.

Anonymous00195, Anonymous00196. · No affiliation provided · J Feline Med Surg. · Pubmed #15742502 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Punzi HA, Punzi CF, Anonymous00194, Anonymous00195. · Punzi Medical Center, 1932 Walnut Plaza, Carrollton, TX 75006, USA. · Curr Hypertens Rep. · Pubmed #15010012 No free full text.

Abstract: Based on the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack (ALLHAT) Trial, the Seventh Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7) states that "thiazide-type diuretics should be used as initial therapy for most patients with hypertension." In the ALLHAT study, although there was no difference in the primary outcome for fatal heart attack and nonfatal myocardial infarction between all treatment groups, the manuscript endorses thiazide-type diuretics as first choice, based on their cardioprotective effects and low cost. It is well known that thiazide-type diuretics cause hypokalemia, glucose intolerance, and diabetes, although the ALLHAT study showed a significant 43% to 65% higher risk of new-onset diabetes with chlorthalidone compared with amlodipine (30%) and lisinopril (18%). The investigators justified the fact that the greater incidence of diabetes did not translate into more cardiovascular events. Such a conclusion ignores that the morbidity and mortality from diabetes manifests over decades and not the mere 2- to 6-year time frame examined in the ALLHAT study. It would appear that the strong endorsement of thiazide-type diuretics as first-line therapy by the JNC-7 will lead to a higher incidence of diabetes in these patients.

McMahon FG, Weinstein SP, Rowe E, Ernst KR, Johnson F, Fujioka K, Anonymous00195. · Clinical Research Center, 147 South Liberty Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. · J Hum Hypertens. · Pubmed #11840224 links to  free full text

Abstract: Sibutramine treatment in obesity results in significantly greater weight reduction compared with placebo, although weight loss with sibutramine may be accompanied by small but statistically significant mean increases in blood pressure (BP). This 52-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised study investigated the effects of sibutramine 20 mg once daily or placebo on body weight in 220 obese (body mass index (BMI) 27-40 kg/m2), hypertensive patients. At randomisation, hypertension was well controlled (< or = 95 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure (DBP)) with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, with or without concomitant thiazide diuretic therapy. Therapy for hypertension continued for the 52 weeks of the study. Sibutramine 20 mg produced significantly greater weight loss compared with placebo: 4.5 kg with sibutramine compared with 0.4 kg with placebo (last observation carried forward (LOCF); P < or = 0.05). A total of 62 patients (42.8%) treated with sibutramine lost < or = 5% of their body weight compared with six patients (8.3%) treated with placebo; 19 patients (13.1%) treated with sibutramine lost > or = 10% of their body weight compared with two patients (2.8%) treated with placebo (LOCF; P < or = 0.05 for both comparisons). Hypertension remained well controlled for the 52 weeks of the study with both sibutramine and placebo treatment. After 52 weeks, the differences between placebo treatment and sibutramine treatment for both mean supine systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP were approximately 3 mm Hg: mean DBP was 82.8 mm Hg with placebo treatment compared with 85.5 mm Hg with sibutramine treatment (LOCF; P = 0.004) and mean SBP was 130.4 mm Hg with placebo compared with 133.1 mm Hg with sibutramine (LOCF; P = 0.0497; both comparisons, sibutramine vs placebo). The mean increases in SBP and DBP did not appear to change the overall risk category for coronary heart disease end points. Changes in pulse rate at week 52 were a decrease of 0.3 beats per minute (bpm) for placebo treatment compared with an increase of 5.7 bpm for sibutramine treatment (P < 0.001). Mandated withdrawals from the study due to protocol-defined changes in BP were not statistically different between the two treatment groups. Greater favourable changes in lipid profile, serum glucose, and uric acid could be accounted for by greater weight losses occurring in the sibutramine treatment group. Sibutramine was well tolerated. This study indicates that in obese patients whose hypertension is well controlled at the outset with an ACE inhibitor, with or without concomitant thiazide diuretic therapy, sibutramine safely and effectively achieves weight loss without compromising good BP control.

Agodoa LY, Appel L, Bakris GL, Beck G, Bourgoignie J, Briggs JP, Charleston J, Cheek D, Cleveland W, Douglas JG, Douglas M, Dowie D, Faulkner M, Gabriel A, Gassman J, Greene T, Hall Y, Hebert L, Hiremath L, Jamerson K, Johnson CJ, Kopple J, Kusek J, Lash J, Lea J, Lewis JB, Lipkowitz M, Massry S, Middleton J, Miller ER, Norris K, O'Connor D, Ojo A, Phillips RA, Pogue V, Rahman M, Randall OS, Rostand S, Schulman G, Smith W, Thornley-Brown D, Tisher CC, Toto RD, Wright JT, Xu S, Anonymous00195. · Case Western Reserve University, Clinical Hypertension Program, University Hospitals of Cleveland and the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10900 Euclid Ave, Wood Bldg Room W-165, Cleveland, OH 44106-4982, USA. · JAMA. · Pubmed #11386927 links to  free full text

Abstract: CONTEXT: Incidence of end-stage renal disease due to hypertension has increased in recent decades, but the optimal strategy for treatment of hypertension to prevent renal failure is unknown, especially among African Americans. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (ramipril), a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (amlodipine), and a beta-blocker (metoprolol) on hypertensive renal disease progression. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Interim analysis of a randomized, double-blind, 3 x 2 factorial trial conducted in 1094 African Americans aged 18 to 70 years with hypertensive renal disease (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] of 20-65 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) enrolled between February 1995 and September 1998. This report compares the ramipril and amlodipine groups following discontinuation of the amlodipine intervention in September 2000. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive amlodipine, 5 to 10 mg/d (n = 217), ramipril, 2.5 to 10 mg/d (n = 436), or metoprolol, 50 to 200 mg/d (n = 441), with other agents added to achieve 1 of 2 blood pressure goals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the rate of change in GFR; the main secondary outcome was a composite index of the clinical end points of reduction in GFR of more than 50% or 25 mL/min per 1.73 m(2), end-stage renal disease, or death. RESULTS: Among participants with a urinary protein to creatinine ratio of >0.22 (corresponding approximately to proteinuria of more than 300 mg/d), the ramipril group had a 36% (2.02 [SE, 0.74] mL/min per 1.73 m(2)/y) slower mean decline in GFR over 3 years (P =.006) and a 48% reduced risk of the clinical end points vs the amlodipine group (95% confidence interval [CI], 20%-66%). In the entire cohort, there was no significant difference in mean GFR decline from baseline to 3 years between treatment groups (P =.38). However, compared with the amlodipine group, after adjustment for baseline covariates the ramipril group had a 38% reduced risk of clinical end points (95% CI, 13%-56%), a 36% slower mean decline in GFR after 3 months (P =.002), and less proteinuria (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Ramipril, compared with amlodipine, retards renal disease progression in patients with hypertensive renal disease and proteinuria and may offer benefit to patients without proteinuria.

Qureshi NN, Hatcher J, Chaturvedi N, Jafar TH, Anonymous00195. · Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, P O Box 3500, Stadium Road, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan. · BMJ. · Pubmed #17991935 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a simple educational package for general practitioners on adherence to antihypertensive drugs. DESIGN: Cluster randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Six randomly selected communities in Karachi, Pakistan. PARTICIPANTS: 200 patients with hypertension taking antihypertensive drugs; 78 general practitioners. INTERVENTION: Care by general practitioners specially trained in management of hypertension compared with usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Correct dosing, defined as percentage of prescribed doses taken, measured with electronic medication event monitoring system (MEMS) bottle. RESULTS: 200 patients were enrolled, and 178 (89%) successfully completed six weeks of follow-up. Adherence was significantly greater in the special care group than in the usual care group (unadjusted mean percentage days with correct dose 48.1%, 95% confidence interval 35.8% to 60.4%, versus 32.4%, 22.6% to 42.3%; P=0.048). Adherence was also higher among patients who had higher levels of education (P<0.001), were encouraged by family members (P<0.001), believed in the effect of drugs (P<0.001), and had the purpose of the drugs explained to them (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Special training of general practitioners in management of hypertension, emphasising good communication between doctors and patients, is more effective than usual care provided in the communities in Karachi. Such simple interventions should be adopted by other developing countries that are now facing an increasing burden of hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trials NCT00330408 [ClinicalTrials.gov].

Skrtic S, Niklason A, Leoo T, Hedner T, Anonymous00195. · Section of Clinical Pharmacology, Dept of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. · Blood Press. · Pubmed #17472028 No free full text.

Abstract: The RIAHD (Risk factor Identification and Assessment in Hypertension and Diabetes) study was conducted as a non-interventional study in 699 patients with hypertension without additional risk factors (low-risk) or with additional risk factors (high-risk), primarily diabetes and/or micro/macroalbuminuria (MA/A). The RIAHD study aimed to assess novel cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) such as blood viscosity, inflammatory markers and selected genetic polymorphisms. In addition, the RIAHD study also aimed to examine home versus office blood pressures (BPs), objective cardiovascular risk according to ESH/ESC Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation systems (SCORE) and subjectively expressed risk (clinical judgment) by physicians and patients. The health economic impact of other RFs, associated clinical conditions and target organ damage was also studied by evaluating healthcare utilization and sick leave in high-risk patients. In terms of circulating RFs, measured and calculated whole blood viscosity did not differ between the high and low-risk patient groups. Fibrinogen was significantly increased in the high-risk group, while hsCRP did not differ between the two groups. Self-measured BPs at home differed from BPs measured in the office. The average systolic home BPs was 11.8 mmHg lower in the low-risk group and 6.7 mmHg lower in the high-risk group. The diastolic home BPs averages differed 7.1 mm Hg and 4.1 mmHg from office BPs in the low-risk and high-risk groups, respectively. A higher home BP compared with the office BP, i.e. masked high BP values, was found in 21% of patients in the low-risk group and 32% of patients in the high-risk group. Global CV risk assessment (high-risk or low-risk) by the physicians corresponded well to objective risk evaluation (ESH/ESC) in the high-risk hypertensive patients, while physicians tended to underestimate the patients CV risk in the low-risk group (without diabetes and/or MA/A). Proper global risk assessment by judgement is often difficult in cardiovascular patients. The RIAHD study emphasizes the importance of performing a more extended RF assessment in hypertensive patients with as well as without diabetes and/or micro/macroalbuminuria in order to expose the full RF profile.

Rossi GP, Bernini G, Caliumi C, Desideri G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Ganzaroli C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mallamaci F, Mannelli M, Mattarello MJ, Moretti A, Palumbo G, Parenti G, Porteri E, Semplicini A, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Boscaro M, Pessina AC, Mantero F, Anonymous00195. · For a list of author affiliations, please see the. · J Am Coll Cardiol. · Pubmed #17161262 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We prospectively investigated the prevalence of curable forms of primary aldosteronism (PA) in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. BACKGROUND: The prevalence of curable forms of PA is currently unknown, although retrospective data suggest that it is not as low as commonly perceived. METHODS: Consecutive hypertensive patients referred to 14 hypertension centers underwent a diagnostic protocol composed of measurement of Na+ and K+ in serum and 24-h urine, sitting plasma renin activity, and aldosterone at baseline and after 50 mg captopril. The patients with an aldosterone/renin ratio >40 at baseline, and/or >30 after captopril, and/or a probability of PA (by a logistic discriminant function) > or =50% underwent imaging tests and adrenal vein sampling (AVS) or adrenocortical scintigraphy to identify the underlying adrenal pathology. An aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) was diagnosed in patients who in addition to excess autonomous aldosterone secretion showed: 1) lateralized aldosterone secretion at AVS or adrenocortical scintigraphy, 2) adenoma at surgery and pathology, and 3) a blood pressure decrease after adrenalectomy. Evidence of excess autonomous aldosterone secretion without such criteria led to a diagnosis of idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). RESULTS: A total of 1,180 patients (age 46 +/- 12 years) were enrolled; a conclusive diagnosis was attained in 1,125 (95.3%). Of these, 54 (4.8%) had an APA and 72 (6.4%) had an IHA. There were more APA (62.5%) and fewer IHA cases (37.5%) at centers where AVS was available (p = 0.002); the opposite occurred where AVS was unavailable. CONCLUSIONS: In newly diagnosed hypertensive patients referred to hypertension centers, the prevalence of APA is high (4.8%). The availability of AVS is essential for an accurate identification of the adrenocortical pathologies underlying PA.

Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, Dans T, Avezum A, Lanas F, McQueen M, Budaj A, Pais P, Varigos J, Lisheng L, Anonymous00195. · Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8L 2X2. · Lancet. · Pubmed #15364185 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although more than 80% of the global burden of cardiovascular disease occurs in low-income and middle-income countries, knowledge of the importance of risk factors is largely derived from developed countries. Therefore, the effect of such factors on risk of coronary heart disease in most regions of the world is unknown. METHODS: We established a standardised case-control study of acute myocardial infarction in 52 countries, representing every inhabited continent. 15152 cases and 14820 controls were enrolled. The relation of smoking, history of hypertension or diabetes, waist/hip ratio, dietary patterns, physical activity, consumption of alcohol, blood apolipoproteins (Apo), and psychosocial factors to myocardial infarction are reported here. Odds ratios and their 99% CIs for the association of risk factors to myocardial infarction and their population attributable risks (PAR) were calculated. FINDINGS: Smoking (odds ratio 2.87 for current vs never, PAR 35.7% for current and former vs never), raised ApoB/ApoA1 ratio (3.25 for top vs lowest quintile, PAR 49.2% for top four quintiles vs lowest quintile), history of hypertension (1.91, PAR 17.9%), diabetes (2.37, PAR 9.9%), abdominal obesity (1.12 for top vs lowest tertile and 1.62 for middle vs lowest tertile, PAR 20.1% for top two tertiles vs lowest tertile), psychosocial factors (2.67, PAR 32.5%), daily consumption of fruits and vegetables (0.70, PAR 13.7% for lack of daily consumption), regular alcohol consumption (0.91, PAR 6.7%), and regular physical activity (0.86, PAR 12.2%), were all significantly related to acute myocardial infarction (p<0.0001 for all risk factors and p=0.03 for alcohol). These associations were noted in men and women, old and young, and in all regions of the world. Collectively, these nine risk factors accounted for 90% of the PAR in men and 94% in women. INTERPRETATION: Abnormal lipids, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, psychosocial factors, consumption of fruits, vegetables, and alcohol, and regular physical activity account for most of the risk of myocardial infarction worldwide in both sexes and at all ages in all regions. This finding suggests that approaches to prevention can be based on similar principles worldwide and have the potential to prevent most premature cases of myocardial infarction.