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Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and SARS-CoV-2 infection: an analysis from the veteran's affairs healthcare system.
Sandhu, AT, Kohsaka, S, Lin, S, Woo, CY, Goldstein, MK, Heidenreich, PA
American heart journal. 2021;:46-57
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BACKGROUND Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are known to impact the functional receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The association between chronic therapy with these medications and infection risk remains unclear. OBJECTIVES The objective was to determine the association between prior ACEI or ARB therapy and SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with hypertension in the U.S. Veteran's Affairs health system. METHODS We compared the odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection among three groups: patients treated with ACEI, treated with ARB, or treated with alternate first-line anti-hypertensives without ACEI/ARB. We excluded patients with alternate indications for ACEI or ARB therapy. We performed an augmented inverse propensity weighted analysis with adjustment for demographics, region, comorbidities, vitals, and laboratory values. RESULTS Among 1,724,723 patients with treated hypertension, 659,180 were treated with ACEI, 310,651 with ARB, and 754,892 with neither. Before weighting, patients treated with ACEI or ARB were more likely to be diabetic and use more anti-hypertensives. There were 13,278 SARS-CoV-2 infections (0.8%) between February 12, 2020 and August 19, 2020. Patients treated with ACEI had lower odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection (odds ratio [OR] 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.97) while those treated with ARB had similar odds (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 0.96-1.07) compared with patients treated with alternate first-line anti-hypertensives without ACEI/ARB. In falsification analyses, patients on ACEI did not have a difference in their odds of unrelated outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest the safety of continuing ACEI and ARB therapy. The association between ACEI therapy and lower odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection requires further investigation.
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Risk Factors Control and Early Recurrent Cerebral Infarction in Patients with Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease.
Del Brutto, VJ, Liebeskind, DS, Romano, JG, Campo-Bustillo, I, Cotsonis, G, Nizam, A, Prabhakaran, S, ,
Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. 2021;(9):105914
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BACKGROUND The risk of early recurrent cerebral infarction (RCI) is high in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (IAD). We sought to determine the relationship between risk factor control and early RCI risk among patients with symptomatic IAD. METHODS We analyzed participants with symptomatic IAD in the multi-center prospective observational MYRIAD study. Risk factor control was assessed at 6-8-week follow-up. Optimal risk factor control was defined by target systolic blood pressure, being non-smoker, target physical activity, and antiplatelet and antilipidemic therapy compliance. Age-adjusted associations were calculated between risk factor control and RCI determined by MRI-evident new infarcts in the territory of the stenotic vessel at 6-8 weeks from the index event. RESULTS Among 82 participants with clinical and brain MRI information available 6-8 weeks after the index event (mean age 63.5 ±12.5 years, 62.2% men), RCI occurred in 21 (25.6%) cases. At 6-8-week follow-up, 37.8% had target systolic blood pressure, 92.7% were non-smokers, 51.2% had target physical activity, and 98.8% and 86.6% were compliant with antiplatelet and antilipidemic therapy, respectively. Optimal risk factor control increased from 4.9% at baseline to 19.5% at 6-8-week follow-up (p=0.01). None of the participants with optimal risk factor control at follow-up had RCI (0% vs. 31.8%, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Only one-fifth of MYRIAD participants had optimal risk factor control during early follow-up. Approximately half and two-thirds had physical inactivity and uncontrolled systolic blood pressure, respectively. These risk factors may represent important therapeutic targets to prevent early RCI in patients with symptomatic IAD.
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Epidemiological and clinical profile of hypertensive octogenarian patients and factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension: observational study of 346 patients.
Bahloul, A, Hammami, R, Charfeddine, S, Triki, S, Bouattour, N, Abid, L, Kammoun, S
The Pan African medical journal. 2021;:202
Abstract
INTRODUCTION hypertension (HTN) is the main risk factor for most morbidities of elderly subjects. The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hypertension in octogenarians and to identify the factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension in this population. METHODS we used data collected in the outpatient cardiology department of the University Hospital of Sfax between 15th April 2019 and 15th May 2019 as part of the National Tunisian Registry of Hypertension. We included in our study patients aged 80 years or more with hypertension. We described the epidemiological and clinical profile of this population, and we studied the associations between uncontrolled hypertension and socio-demographic, lifestyle, clinical and therapeutic factors using logistic regression models. RESULTS we included 346 subjects (45.1% (n=156) male and 54.9% (n=190) female), with a mean age of 84.36 (SD 4.01) years. More than half of them had uncontrolled hypertension. Dyslipidemia was the most common cardiovascular risk factor found in 43.6 % (n=151) of patients followed by diabetes (35.5%, n=122). One-third of patients had a history of coronary artery disease and/or stroke. Renal failure and kalemia disorders were observed, respectively, in 12.1% (n=42) and 25.2% (n=40) of patients. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) were male sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.663, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045-2.647; p=0.032), diabetes (aOR: 1.66, 95%CI: 1.031-2.688; p=0.037,) and poor adherence to blood pressure (BP) medications (aOR: 1.960, 95%CI: 1.195-3.214; p=0.008). CONCLUSION our results showed that more than half of octogenarian hypertensive patients did not reach the BP target and that poor adherence to BP medications was the main factor of uncontrolled HTN. In this population, the presence of other comorbidities and poor adherence to BP medications are very common. Systematic research for behaviors suggesting poor medication adherence should be a priority for physicians caring for these patients.
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Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and mortality in patients with COVID-19.
Rossi, L, Malagoli, A, Biagi, A, Zanni, A, Sticozzi, C, Comastri, G, Pannone, L, Gandolfi, S, Vergara, P, Villani, GQ
Infection. 2021;(2):287-294
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Association of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors with risk of death in patients with hypertension (HTN) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not well characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with HTN and COVID-19 with respect to different chronic antihypertensive drug intake. We performed a retrospective, observational study from a large cohort of patients with HTN and with a laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection admitted to the Emergency Rooms (ER) of the Piacenza Hospital network from February 21, 2020 to March 20, 2020. There were 1050 patients admitted to the ERs of the Piacenza Hospital network with COVID-19. HTN was present in 590 patients [median age, 76.2 years (IQR 68.2-82.6)]; 399 (66.1%) patients were male. Of them, 248 patients were chronically treated with ACEi, 181 with ARBs, and 161 with other drugs (O-drugs) including beta blockers, diuretics and calcium-channel inhibitors. With respect to the antihypertensive use, there was no difference between comorbid conditions. During a follow-up of 38 days (IQR 7.0-46.0), 256 patients (43.4%) died, without any difference stratifying for antihypertensive drugs. Of them, 107 (43.1%) were in ACEi group vs 67 (37%) in ARBs group vs 82 (50.7%) in O-drugs group, (log-rank test: p = 0.066). In patients with HTN and COVID-19, neither ACEi nor ARBs were independently associated with mortality. After adjusting for potential confounders in risk prediction, the rate of death was similar. Our data confirm Specialty Societal recommendations, suggesting that treatment with ACEIs or ARBs should not be discontinued because of COVID-19.
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Evaluation of Medical Care for Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Primary Care in Mexico: Observational Retrospective Study.
Lara-Esqueda, A, Zaizar-Fregoso, SA, Madrigal-Perez, VM, Ramirez-Flores, M, Montes-Galindo, DA, Martinez-Fierro, ML, Rodriguez-Sanchez, IP, Guzman-Esquivel, J, Meza-Robles, C, Ceja-Espiritu, G, et al
Journal of diabetes research. 2021;:7365075
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The present study evaluated the quality of medical care for patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HBP), and both pathologies (DM+HBP) within a public health system in Mexico. METHODS 45,498 patients were included from 2012 to 2015. All information was taken from the electronic medical record database. Each patient record was compared against the standard to test the quality of medical care. RESULTS Glycemia with hypertension goals reached 29.6% in DM+HBP, 48.6% in DM, and 53.2% in HBP. The goals of serum lipids were reached by 3% in DM+HBP, 5% in DM, and 0.2% in HBP. Glycemia, hypertension, and LDL cholesterol reached 0.04%. 15% of patients had an undiagnosed disease. Clinical follow-up examinations reached 20% for foot examination and clinical eye examination. Specialty referrals reached 1% in angiology or cardiology. CONCLUSION Goals for glycemic and hypertension reached 50% in the overall population, while serum lipids, clinical follow-up examinations, and referral to a specialist were deficient. Patients who had both diseases had more consultations, better control for hypertension and lipids, but inferior glycemic control. Overall, quality care for DM and/or HBP has not been met according to the standards.
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First line drug treatment for hypertension and reductions in blood pressure according to age and ethnicity: cohort study in UK primary care.
Sinnott, SJ, Douglas, IJ, Smeeth, L, Williamson, E, Tomlinson, LA
BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2020;:m4080
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study whether treatment recommendations based on age and ethnicity according to United Kingdom (UK) clinical guidelines for hypertension translate to blood pressure reductions in current routine clinical care. DESIGN Observational cohort study. SETTING UK primary care, from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2017. PARTICIPANTS New users of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB), calcium channel blockers (CCB), and thiazides. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Change in systolic blood pressure in new users of ACEI/ARB versus CCB, stratified by age (< v ≥55) and ethnicity (black v non-black), from baseline to 12, 26, and 52 week follow-up. Secondary analyses included comparisons of new users of CCB with those of thiazides. A negative outcome (herpes zoster) was used to detect residual confounding and a series of positive outcomes (expected drug effects) was used to determine whether the study design could identify expected associations. RESULTS During one year of follow-up, 87 440 new users of ACEI/ARB, 67 274 new users of CCB, and 22 040 new users of thiazides were included (median 4 (interquartile range 2-6) blood pressure measurements per user). For non-black people who did not have diabetes and who were younger than 55, CCB use was associated with a larger reduction in systolic blood pressure of 1.69 mm Hg (99% confidence interval -2.52 to -0.86) relative to ACEI/ARB use at 12 weeks, and a reduction of 0.40 mm Hg (-0.98 to 0.18) in those aged 55 and older. In subgroup analyses using six finer age categories of non-black people who did not have diabetes, CCB use versus ACEI/ARB use was associated with a larger reduction in systolic blood pressure only in people aged 75 and older. Among people who did not have diabetes, systolic blood pressure decreased more with CCB use than with ACEI/ARB use in black people (reduction difference 2.15 mm Hg (-6.17 to 1.87)); the corresponding reduction difference was 0.98 mm Hg (-1.49 to -0.47) in non-black people. CONCLUSIONS Similar reductions in blood pressure were found to be associated with new use of CCB as with new use of ACEI/ARB in non-black people who did not have diabetes, both in those who were aged younger than 55 and those aged 55 and older. For black people without diabetes, CCB new use was associated with numerically greater reductions in blood pressure than ACEI/ARB compared with non-black people without diabetes, but the confidence intervals were overlapping for the two groups. These results suggest that the current UK algorithmic approach to first line antihypertensive treatment might not lead to greater reductions in blood pressure. Specific indications could be considered in treatment recommendations.
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Implications of Guideline Updates for the Management of Apparent Treatment Resistant Hypertension in the United States (A NCDR Research to Practice [R2P] Project).
Maw, AM, Thompson, LE, Ho, PM, Kennedy, KF, Maddox, TM, Valle, JA, Sandhu, A, Masoudi, FA, Messerli, FH, Daugherty, SL
The American journal of cardiology. 2020;(1):63-67
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The 2018 resistant hypertension scientific statement offers new treatment recommendations. To determine the implications of these changes, we sought to ascertain the prevalence of apparent treatment resistant hypertension (aTRH) and the therapies used to treat it in an US national ambulatory cardiovascular registry before these recent developments. Using the PINNACLE Registry from 2013 to 2014, we identified all patients receiving treatment for hypertension and then determined the proportion with aTRH as those who met the following criteria over ≥2 consecutive visits: (1) 3 blood pressure medication classes including a diuretic and blood pressure >140/90, OR (2) ≥4 blood pressure medications. Among those with aTRH, we examined past use of therapies now recommended in guidelines including: (1) first-line therapy with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin-II receptor blocker, calcium channel blocker and a thiazide diuretic, (2) use of chlorthalidone, and (3) use of a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) for those requiring a 4th medication. Of 84,624 patients on treatment for hypertension, 11,147 (13.1%) met criteria for prevalent aTRH. Among these patients: (1) Of those on 3 antihypertensive agents (n = 1,255), 315 (25%) were on the first-line regimen now recommended in guidelines, (2) 520 (6.7%) of the 7,930 patients on thiazides were using chlorthalidone, and (3) 3061 (27%) were using a MRA; another 4,523 (40.6%) were eligible for its addition. In conclusion, our findings of low historic use of therapies now recommended in guidelines suggest opportunities to improve care among patients with aTRH.
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Higher hypertension prevalence, lower incidence, and aggressive treatment with decreasing mortality, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular incidence in Taiwan from 2005 to 2010: A 2 population-based cohorts study.
Liao, CT, Wu, PC, Shih, JC, Cheng, TJ, Wu, WS
Medicine. 2020;(39):e22437
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Hypertension continues to be an important public health concern because of its associated morbidity, mortality, and economic impact on society. The aims of this study are to compare the secular changes in age-stratified hypertension prevalence, incidence, co-morbidity, and 3 years of cardiovascular outcome in Taiwan in the years 2005 and 2010.We enrolled hypertensive individuals from the datasets of the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) in 2005 and 2010 in Taiwan separately. We analyzed the hypertension prevalence, incidence, medication treatment, and associated morbidities. The risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and all-causes mortalities among the hypertensive individuals were evaluated in 3 years of follow-up.There was an increased prevalence of hypertension but decreased incidence of hypertension in those over 65 from 2005 to 2010. Dyslipidemia was the highest rate of co-morbidity in 2005 and 2010. The most frequent categories of anti-hypertensive agents prescribed was 1 or 2 for both 2005 and 2010. Calcium channel blockers were the most common anti-hypertensive agents prescribed, followed by Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/Angiotensin receptor blockers. After 3 years of follow-up, the risks of coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) as well as death were less in 2010 than in 2005 in Taiwan.Our study showed that hypertension individuals had an increased prevalence, younger age, decreased incidence, increased medication treatment associated with decreased the CAD, CVD, and mortalities in 2010 compared to 2005 in Taiwan.
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Patients With Primary Aldosteronism Respond to Unilateral Adrenalectomy With Long-Term Reduction in Salt Intake.
Adolf, C, Heinrich, DA, Holler, F, Lechner, B, Nirschl, N, Sturm, L, Görge, V, Riester, A, Williams, TA, Treitl, M, et al
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2020;(3):e484-93
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CONTEXT High dietary salt intake is known to aggravate arterial hypertension. This effect could be of particular relevance in the setting of primary aldosteronism (PA), which is associated with cardiovascular damage independent of blood pressure levels. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of therapy on salt intake in PA patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 148 consecutive PA patients (66 with unilateral and 82 with bilateral PA) from the database of the German Conn's Registry were included. Salt intake was quantified by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion before and after initiation of PA treatment. STUDY DESIGN Observational longitudinal cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care hospital. RESULTS At baseline, unilateral PA patients had a significantly higher urinary sodium excretion than patients with bilateral disease (205 vs 178 mmol/d, P = 0.047). Higher urinary sodium excretion correlated with an increased cardiovascular risk profile including proteinuria, impaired lipid, and glucose metabolism and was associated with higher daily doses of antihypertensive drugs to achieve blood pressure control. In unilateral disease, urinary sodium excretion dropped spontaneously to 176 mmol/d (P = 0.012) 1 year after unilateral adrenalectomy and remained low at 3 years of follow-up (174 mmol/d). In contrast, treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) in bilateral PA patients was not associated with a significant change in urinary sodium excretion at follow-up (179 mmol/d vs 183 mmol/d). CONCLUSION PA patients consuming a high-salt diet, estimated based on urinary sodium excretion, respond to adrenalectomy with a significant reduction of salt intake, in contrast to MRA treatment.
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PAIT-Survey Follow-Up: Changes in Albuminuria in Hypertensive Diabetic Patients with Mild-Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease.
Fici, F, Ari Bakir, E, Ilkay Yüce, E, Kanuncu, S, Makel, W, Tarim, BA, Robles, NR
High blood pressure & cardiovascular prevention : the official journal of the Italian Society of Hypertension. 2020;(1):43-49
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INTRODUCTION Albuminuria is an early marker of kidney disease and reduction of albuminuria translates into a decreased occurrence of cardiovascular and renal outcomes. AIMS To evaluate the changes in the prevalence of albuminuria in diabetic hypertensive patients treated with several combinations of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system with calcium channel blockers. METHODS We analysed data from 668 unselected patients from the PAIT survey (mean age 60.4 ± 10.2 years, prevalence of males 38%), with and without albuminuria, maintained for 6 months with the previous treatment with amlodipine-valsartan, amlodipine perindopril, lercanidipine-enalapril, verapamil-trandolapril, nitrendipine-enalapril and felodipine-ramipril Albuminuria was assessed, as urinary albumin-creatinine ratio, using a Multistic-Clinitek device analyzer. Microalbuminuria was defined as a loss of 3.4-33.9 mg albumin/mmol creatinine (30-300 mg/g) and macroalbuminuria as a loss of > 33.9 mg albumin/mmol creatinine (> 300 mg/g). Blood pressure was measured with a validated digital device. RESULTS At baseline, albuminuria was present in 310 subjects (46.4%) (microalbuminuria in 263 (84.8%), macroalbuminuria in 15.2%), and normoalbuminuria in 53.6% 358. After 6 months, the prevalence of subjects with albuminuria was significantly lowered (p < 0.01) by 23.5% (microalbuminuria - 23.9%, p < 0.01 and macroalbuminuria - 21.3%). The prevalence of subjects with microalbuminuria was reduced with all treatments: amlodipine-valsartan - 15.6%, amlodipine-perindopril - 11.8%, lercanidipine-enalapril - 41.3% and verapamil-trandolapril - 19.2%. Data with nitrendipine-enalapril and felodipine-ramipril were not analyzed, due to the low number of patients. The frequency of patients with normoalbuminuria was significantly higher (p < 0.01) with lercanidipine-enalapril compared with any other treatment. Blood pressure was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced, with a similar effect between treatments. CONCLUSIONS The treatments decrease the prevalence of subjects with albuminuria, showing a significant difference among the different drug combinations, favoring the use of new dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, such as lercanidipine, combined with RAAS inhibitors, to control albuminuria in diabetic hypertensive patients.