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Degree of Blood Pressure Control and Incident Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Adults With Hypertension.
Zhang, Y, Nie, J, Zhang, Y, Li, J, Liang, M, Wang, G, Tian, J, Liu, C, Wang, B, Cui, Y, et al
Journal of the American Heart Association. 2020;(16):e017015
Abstract
Background The association between blood pressure (BP) control and incident diabetes mellitus remains unknown. We aim to investigate the association between degree of time-averaged on-treatment systolic blood pressure (SBP) control and incident diabetes mellitus in hypertensive adults. Methods and Results A total of 14 978 adults with hypertension without diabetes mellitus at baseline were included from the CSPPT (China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial). Participants were randomized double-masked to daily enalapril 10 mg and folic acid 0.8 mg or enalapril 10 mg alone. BP measurements were taken every 3 months after randomization. The primary outcome was incident diabetes mellitus, defined as physician-diagnosed diabetes mellitus, or use of glucose-lowering drugs during follow-up, or fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL at the exit visit. Over a median of 4.5 years, a significantly higher risk of incident diabetes mellitus was found in participants with time-averaged on-treatment SBP 130 to <140 mm Hg (10.3% versus 7.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.15‒1.64), compared with those with SBP 120 to <130 mm Hg. Moreover, the risk of incident diabetes mellitus increased by 24% (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.00‒1.53) and the incidence of regression to normal fasting glucose (<100 mg/dL) decreased by 29% (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57‒0.89) in participants with intermediate BP control (SBP/diastolic blood pressure, 130 to <140 and/or 80 to <90 mm Hg), compared with those with a tight BP control of <130/<80 mm Hg. Similar results were found when the time-averaged BP were calculated using the BP measurements during the first 6- or 24-month treatment period, or in the analysis using propensity scores. Conclusions In this non-diabetic, hypertensive population, SBP control in the range of 120 to <130 mm Hg, compared with the 130 to <140 mm Hg, was associated with a lower risk of incident diabetes mellitus.
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Pediatric Liddle Syndrome Caused by a Novel SCNN1G Variant in a Chinese Family and Characterized by Early-Onset Hypertension.
Fan, P, Pan, XC, Zhang, D, Yang, KQ, Zhang, Y, Tian, T, Luo, F, Ma, WJ, Liu, YX, Wang, LP, et al
American journal of hypertension. 2020;(7):670-675
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Liddle syndrome (LS), an autosomal dominant disorder, is a common monogenic hypertension in pediatrics. In this study, we reported a novel SCNN1G variant in a Chinese family with pediatric LS, and conduct a systematic review of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)-gene-positive LS cases to conclude the clinical genetic features of LS in childhood. METHODS Next-generation sequencing and in silico analysis were performed in the proband to discover candidate variants. Sanger sequencing was used to identify the predicted likely pathogenic variant. LS patients in this family were treated with amiloride. The Medline database was searched to summarize clinical features of pediatric LS cases whose age at genetic diagnosis was not more than 18 years. RESULTS Genetic analysis identified a novel SCNN1G missense variant (c.1874C>T, p.Pro625Leu) in the proband with LS in childhood. In silico analysis revealed this heterozygous variant was highly conserved and deleterious. A total of 38 publications described pediatric LS associated with 25 pathogenic variants in SCNN1B and SCNN1G in 54 children. Despite the phenotypic heterogeneity, early-onset hypertension is the most common feature. All LS patients in this family or the reviewed cases showed significantly improvements in hypertension and hypokalemia after treatment with ENaC inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS This study identified a novel SCNN1G missense variant in a patient with pediatric LS, expanding the genetic spectrum of SCNN1G and demonstrating the PY motif of γ-ENaC as a potential mutant region. Early identification and specific management of LS in children and adolescents are important to prevent the development of hypertensive end-organ disease.
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Self-management and blood pressure control in China: a community-based multicentre cross-sectional study.
Qu, Z, Parry, M, Liu, F, Wen, X, Li, J, Zhang, Y, Wang, D, Li, X
BMJ open. 2019;(3):e025819
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study explored the relationship between self-management and blood pressure (BP) control in China. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING Eight community health centres from four cities in the Northeast (Shenyang), Northwest (Xi'an), Southwest (Chengdu) and South (Changsha) of China. PARTICIPANTS A total of 873 adults with hypertension, including 360 men and 513 women. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS BP control was the primary outcome variable. This was categorised as good control if individuals with hypertension reduced their BP to <140/90 mm Hg, otherwise, it was categorised as poor control. Secondary outcomes included self-management, defined as: (1) context or condition-specific factors or physical/social environments (eg, age, sex, marital status, education, personal income and health insurance) and (2) process or knowledge/beliefs, self-regulation skills/abilities and social facilitation (eg, treatment, diet, exercise and risk factor management). Data were analysed using logistic regression models using SPSS V.20. RESULTS A total of 67.1% (n=586) participants had poor BP control. Limited outpatient care benefits in mainly rural residents (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.81) and longer disease duration (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04) were associated with poor BP control. Self-management practices reduced the odds of having poor BP control (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). CONCLUSIONS The individual and family self-management theory can serve as an effective theory for understanding the key contexts, processes and outcomes essential for BP control in China. Future research should evaluate the effect of a self-management intervention (eg, self-monitoring, medication adherence, regular and routine doctor visits, and social supports) for BP control in China using a multisite cluster randomised controlled trial. Sex and gender difference, cost and patient-reported outcomes should also be examined.
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Effect of levothyroxine on the progression of carotid intima-media thickness in subclinical hypothyroidism patients: a meta-analysis.
Zhao, T, Chen, B, Zhou, Y, Wang, X, Zhang, Y, Wang, H, Shan, Z
BMJ open. 2017;(10):e016053
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in recent studies, but the effects of levothyroxine (L-T4) therapy on C-IMT in SCH patients are still controversial. AIM: To evaluate the effect of L-T4 therapy on endothelial function as determined by C-IMT in patients with SCH. METHODS BeforeJuly 2016, we searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases, selecting published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and self-controlled trials for the meta-analysis. RESULTS Three RCTs with 117 patients were considered appropriate for the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that L-T4 significantly decreased the development of C-IMT (weighted mean difference (WMD) -0.05 mm, 95% CI -0.08 to -0.01 mm; p=0.025). We also analysed nine studies (self-controlled trials) with 247 patients and extracted the IMT of SCH patients before and after L-T4 treatment. After L-T4 therapy, the pooled estimate of the WMD of decreased C-IMT was -0.04 mm (95% CI -0.07 to -0.02 mm; p=0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that L-T4 therapy was associated with a decrease in C-IMT among patients of mixed genders (WMD -0.03 mm, 95% CI -0.06 to -0.01 mm; p=0.145). L-T4 therapy was associated with a decrease in C-IMT among female patients (WMD -0.07 mm, 95% CI -0.14 to -0.01; p=0.186). Longer treatment (>6 months) also resulted in a significant decrease in C-IMT (WMD -0.05 mm, 95% CI -0.08 to -0.02; p=0.335). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis indicates that L-T4 treatment of SCH patients can reduce C-IMT, possibly as a result of the reduction of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, lipoprotein(a), and flow-mediated dilatation. Decreased C-IMT was observed in SCH patients after long-term (>6 months) L-T4 treatment. RCTs with larger samples are needed to verify these observations.
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Longitudinal association between fasting blood glucose concentrations and first stroke in hypertensive adults in China: effect of folic acid intervention.
Xu, RB, Kong, X, Xu, BP, Song, Y, Ji, M, Zhao, M, Huang, X, Li, P, Cheng, X, Chen, F, et al
The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2017;(3):564-570
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Abstract
Background: Diabetes is a known risk factor for stroke, but data on its prospective association with first stroke are limited. Folic acid supplementation has been shown to protect against first stroke, but its role in preventing first stroke in diabetes is unknown.Objectives: This post hoc analysis of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial tested the hypotheses that the fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentration is positively associated with first stroke risk and that folic acid treatment can reduce stroke risk associated with elevated fasting glucose concentrations.Design: This analysis included 20,327 hypertensive adults without a history of stroke or myocardial infarction, who were randomly assigned to a double-blind daily treatment with 10 mg enalapril and 0.8 mg folic acid (n = 10,160) or 10 mg enalapril alone (n = 10,167). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportionate hazard models were used to test the hypotheses with adjustment for pertinent covariables.Results: During a median treatment duration of 4.5 y, 616 participants developed a first stroke (497 ischemic strokes). A high FBG concentration (≥7.0 mmol/L) or diabetes, compared with a low FBG concentration (<5.0 mmol/L), was associated with an increased risk of first stroke (6.0% compared with 2.6%, respectively; HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.8; P < 0.001). Folic acid treatment reduced the risk of stroke across a wide range of FBG concentrations ≥5.0 mmol/L, but risk reduction was greatest in subjects with FBG concentrations ≥7.0 mmol/L or with diabetes (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.97; P < 0.05). There was a significant interactive effect of FBG and folic acid treatment on first stroke (P = 0.01).Conclusions: In Chinese hypertensive adults, an FBG concentration ≥7.0 mmol/L or diabetes is associated with an increased risk of first stroke; this increased risk is reduced by 34% with folic acid treatment. These findings warrant additional investigation. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00794885.
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Angiotensin System Blockade Combined With Calcium Channel Blockers Is Superior to Other Combinations in Cardiovascular Protection With Similar Blood Pressure Reduction: A Meta-Analysis in 20,451 Hypertensive Patients.
Chi, C, Tai, C, Bai, B, Yu, S, Karamanou, M, Wang, J, Protogerou, A, Blacher, J, Safar, ME, Zhang, Y, et al
Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.). 2016;(8):801-8
Abstract
The authors aimed to investigate the superiority of angiotensin system blockade (angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]) plus a calcium channel blocker (CCB) (A+C) over other combination therapies in antihypertensive treatment. A meta-analysis in 20,451 hypertensive patients from eight randomized controlled trials was conducted to compare the A+C treatment with other combination therapies in terms of blood pressure (BP) reduction, clinical outcomes, and adverse events. The results showed that BP reduction did not differ significantly among the A+C therapy and other combination therapies in systolic and diastolic BP (P=.87 and P=.56, respectively). However, A+C therapy, compared with other combination therapies, achieved a significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular composite endpoints, including cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke (risk ratio [RR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.91; P<.001), but similar all-cause mortality (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.77-1.04; P=.15) and stroke rates (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.77-1.04; P=.09). Moreover, A+C therapy yielded a 4.21 mL/min/1.73 m(2) lower estimated glomerular filtration rate reduction than other combinations (P<.001). Finally, A+C therapy showed a similar incidence of adverse events as other combination therapies (P=.34) but presented a significantly lower incidence of serious adverse events (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73-0.98; P=.03). In conclusion, A+C therapy is superior to other combinations of antihypertensive treatment as it shows a lower incidence of cardiovascular events and adverse events, while it has similar effects in lowering BP and preserving renal function.
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The effect of Chinese herbal medicine Jian Ling Decoction for the treatment of essential hypertension: a systematic review.
Xiong, X, Wang, P, Li, X, Zhang, Y
BMJ open. 2015;(2):e006502
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Jian Ling Decoction (JLD) is often prescribed to improve hypertension-related symptoms in China. However, this treatment has not been systematically reviewed for its efficacy against essential hypertension (EH). This review aims to assess the current clinical evidence of JLD in the treatment of EH. DESIGN Seven electronic databases, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) and the Wanfang Database, were searched up to March 2014. Randomised control trials (RCTs) comparing JLD or combined with antihypertensive drugs versus antihypertensive drugs were included. We assessed the methodological quality, extracted the valid data and conducted the meta-analysis according to criteria from the Cochrane group. The primary outcome was categorical or continuous blood pressure (BP), and the secondary outcome was quality of life (QOL). RESULTS Ten trials (655 patients) with unclear-to-high risk of bias were identified. Meta-analysis showed that JLD used alone showed no BP reduction effect; however, improvement on QOL was found in the JLD group compared to antihypertensive drugs. A significant reduction in systolic and diastolic BP was observed for JLD plus antihypertensive drugs when compared with antihypertensive drugs alone. No serious adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS Owing to insufficient clinical data, it is difficult to draw a definite conclusion regarding the effectiveness and safety of JLD for EH, and better trials are needed.
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Chinese herbal formulas for treating hypertension in traditional Chinese medicine: perspective of modern science.
Xiong, X, Yang, X, Liu, Y, Zhang, Y, Wang, P, Wang, J
Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension. 2013;(7):570-9
Abstract
Hypertension, which directly threatens quality of life, is a major contributor to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Over the past two decades, domestic and foreign scholars have agreed upon various standards in the treatment of hypertension, and considerable progress has been made in the field of antihypertensive drugs. Oral antihypertensive drugs represent a milestone in hypertension therapy. However, the blood pressure standard for patients with hypertension is far from satisfactory. The study of Chinese herbal formulas for treating hypertension has received much research attention. These studies seek to integrate traditional and Western medicine in China. Currently, Chinese herbal formulas are known to have an outstanding advantage with regard to bodily regulation. Research shows that Chinese medicine has many protective mechanisms. This paper addresses the process of the antihypertensive mechanisms in Chinese herbal formulas for treating hypertension. These mechanisms are to be discussed in future research.
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Blood pressure loci identified with a gene-centric array.
Johnson, T, Gaunt, TR, Newhouse, SJ, Padmanabhan, S, Tomaszewski, M, Kumari, M, Morris, RW, Tzoulaki, I, O'Brien, ET, Poulter, NR, et al
American journal of human genetics. 2011;(6):688-700
Abstract
Raised blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have identified 47 distinct genetic variants robustly associated with BP, but collectively these explain only a few percent of the heritability for BP phenotypes. To find additional BP loci, we used a bespoke gene-centric array to genotype an independent discovery sample of 25,118 individuals that combined hypertensive case-control and general population samples. We followed up four SNPs associated with BP at our p < 8.56 × 10(-7) study-specific significance threshold and six suggestively associated SNPs in a further 59,349 individuals. We identified and replicated a SNP at LSP1/TNNT3, a SNP at MTHFR-NPPB independent (r(2) = 0.33) of previous reports, and replicated SNPs at AGT and ATP2B1 reported previously. An analysis of combined discovery and follow-up data identified SNPs significantly associated with BP at p < 8.56 × 10(-7) at four further loci (NPR3, HFE, NOS3, and SOX6). The high number of discoveries made with modest genotyping effort can be attributed to using a large-scale yet targeted genotyping array and to the development of a weighting scheme that maximized power when meta-analyzing results from samples ascertained with extreme phenotypes, in combination with results from nonascertained or population samples. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and transcript expression data highlight potential gene regulatory mechanisms at the MTHFR and NOS3 loci. These results provide candidates for further study to help dissect mechanisms affecting BP and highlight the utility of studying SNPs and samples that are independent of those studied previously even when the sample size is smaller than that in previous studies.