Risk of Osteoporotic Fractures With Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers Versus Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in Hypertensive Community-Dwelling Elderly

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are used to treat hypertension; however, in vivo and clinical studies suggest that ARBs and ACE inhibitors may exert different effects on bone. The association between long-term use of ARBs and ACE inhibitors and fracture requiring medical attention is limited. We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching using administrative databases in Ontario, Canada, to examine the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures in hypertensive elderly treated with ARBs versus ACE inhibitors. We identified a cohort of newly treated hypertensive patients aged 66 years and older who initiated an ACE inhibitor from May 1, 2004, to March 31, 2012, and matched them to ARB users on propensity score, sex, and age at drug initiation. The primary outcome was hip fracture, and secondary outcomes were non-hip major osteoporotic fractures (other femoral, clinical vertebral, forearm, wrist, humerus) and other osteoporotic fractures (pelvis, clavicle, patella, shoulder, upper arm, tibia, fibula, ankle, scapula, ribs, sternum, trunk). We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) using Cox proportional hazards model with robust standard errors. Of the 87,635 patients who initiated treatment, 28,819 (32.9%) started ARBs and 58,816 (67.1%) started ACE inhibitors. Among new ARB users, 27,815 (96.5%) were successfully matched to ACE inhibitor users. Without dose adjustment, no significant association was observed for ARBs relative to ACE inhibitor users for hip fractures (HR = 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-1.11), with a decreased risk of other major osteoporotic fractures (HR = 0.81; CI 0.70-0.93) and no significant association for other osteoporotic fractures (HR = 0.88; CI 0.74-1.05). When adjusted for dosage, there was no significant difference between the effects of ARBs and ACE inhibitors on hip (HR = 0.99; CI 0.78-1.25), other major osteoporotic (HR = 0.87; CI 0.75-1.01), and other osteoporotic fractures (HR = 0.90; CI 0.74-1.08).

Metabolic syndrome is associated with and predicted by resting heart rate: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

Although higher resting heart rate (RHR) has emerged as a predictor for lifespan, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. The present study investigates whether a positive relationship exists between RHR and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and whether RHR predicts future MetS.

METHODS

A cohort of 89,860 participants were surveyed during 2006-2007 in Kailuan/Tangshan, China. MetS was diagnosed when a participant presented at least three of the following: abdominal adiposity, low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high triglycerides, hypertension or impaired fasting glucose. RHR was derived from ECG recordings and subjects were stratified based on RHR. Some participants without MetS at baseline were followed-up for 4 years.

RESULTS

At baseline, 23,150 participants (25.76%) had MetS. There was a positive association between RHR and MetS. The OR of having MetS was 1.49 (95% CI 1.32 to 1.69) in subjects with RHR at 95-104 compared with those at 55-64 beats per minute (bpm) (reference), after adjusting for variables including age, sex, education, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activities, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, inflammatory biomarkers and renal function. More importantly, when 43,725 individuals from the original study without MetS at baseline were followed-up, higher RHR was found to predict greater risk of MetS incidence. The OR of developing MetS 4 years later was 1.41 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.65) in subjects with RHR at 95-104 bpm compared with reference, after all adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our cross-sectional and longitudinal findings provide evidence that RHR is an independent risk factor for existing MetS and a powerful predictor for future incidence of MetS.

Scleroderma renal crisis

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is characterized by malignant hypertension and oligo-anuric acute renal failure. It occurs in 5% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), particularly in patients with diffuse disease during the first years. SRC is more common in patients receiving corticosteroids, the risk increasing with increasing dose. The disease is sometimes triggered by use of nephrotoxic drugs and/or intravascular volume depletion. Left ventricular insufficiency and hypertensive encephalopathy are typical clinical features. Thrombotic microangiopathy is detected in 43% of cases, and anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies are present in one-third of patients. Renal biopsy is not necessary if SRC presents classical features. However, biopsy may help to define the prognosis and guide treatment in atypical forms. The prognosis of SRC has greatly improved with the introduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. However, the 5-year survival for SSc patients with full SRC remains low (65%). The treatment of SRC relies on aggressive blood pressure control with an ACE inhibitor, combined with other antihypertensive drugs if needed. Dialysis is frequently indicated but can be stopped in about half of patients, mainly those with good blood pressure control. Patients who need dialysis for more than 2 years qualify for renal transplantation.

The healthcare burden of hypertension in Asia

As the leading global risk for mortality, hypertension (HT) is a common healthcare problem in the world. The total number of patients with HT is likely to grow in the next few decades as the population age and the prevalence of obesity and diabetes increase. HT, as a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, results in more deaths than any other risk factors, including diabetes and cigarette smoking. High prevalence, inadequate awareness, suboptimal treatment and low rate of achieving guideline-recommended target blood pressure control are key factors leading to severe cardiovascular complications that impose a heavy socioeconomic burden, especially in developing countries. Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent with approximately 4.3 billion people, hosting 60% of the world's current human population, and has a high growth rate. Asia differs very widely from the West with regard to ethnic groups, cultures, environments, economics, historical ties and government systems. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to comprehensively summarise the epidemiology, treatment practice and the status of control of HT in different Asian countries in order to guide the future prevention and management in this part of the world.

Inflammation and hypertension in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Hypertension (HTN), a common modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, is more common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We examined the hypothesis that mediators of inflammation and markers of cardiovascular risk are associated with HTN in RA.

METHODS

We compared measures of inflammation [serum C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), homocysteine, and leptin concentrations] and insulin resistance [homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA)] in RA patients with (n = 90) and without HTN (n = 79). HTN was defined as blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg or treatment with antihypertensive therapy. The independent association of markers of interest with HTN was examined using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Patients with HTN were significantly older and had longer disease duration than those without HTN (both p < 0.001). Concentrations of homocysteine [11.1 (8.5-13.5) μmol/l vs 9.3 (7.8-11.0) μmol/l] were significantly higher in patients with HTN (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking, body mass index, and corticosteroid and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) use, increased concentrations of homocysteine (OR 2.9, 95% CI: 1.5-5.5, p = 0.001), and leptin (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-3.8, p = 0.046) were significantly associated with HTN, but the 28-joint Disease Activity Score, IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, and HOMA index were not (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HTN in patients with RA is not associated with generalized systemic inflammation or insulin resistance, but is associated with increasing concentrations of homocysteine and leptin. The pathogenesis of HTN in RA may involve pathways more regularly associated with fat and vascular homeostasis.

Do preoperative haemodynamic data and reactivity test predict the postoperative reversibility of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with large ventricular septal defect and borderline operability?

BACKGROUND

Decisions to operate on patients with shunt lesions presenting late with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and borderline operability are often not based on precise cut off values of haemodynamic data owing to paucity of studies.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the reliability of the preoperative haemodynamic data and reactivity test in predicting the postoperative reversibility of PAH in patients with isolated large ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and borderline operability.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Between 2004 and 2010, 30 patients underwent VSD closure surgically; no early deaths occurred. Twenty-six patients were followed up regularly (mean 39.6±16 months) and one late postoperative death occurred. Fourteen patients who had been followed up for at least 1 year postoperatively underwent cardiac catheterisation.

RESULTS

There were 3 responders (asymptomatic patients with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) index <3 WU.m(2)) and 12 non-responders. The following were lower among responders: mean age at surgery (3.2±0.42 vs 11.55±3.29 years, p=0.227), mean baseline PVR index (3.69±0.8 vs 10.57±9.1, p=0.204), average resistance ratio (RR=0.25±0.01 vs 0.59±0.25, p=0.049) and ratio of pulmonary and systemic mean pressures (PAm:SAm ratio) (0.70±0.009 vs 0.87±0.118, p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative 'base line' PAm:SAm and RR appear to be better predictors of postoperative outcome than other baseline parameters. Preoperative reactivity test had no significant role in predicting postoperative reversibility of PAH at mid-term.

Childhood and adulthood socio-economic position and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: the Uppsala Birth Cohort Multigenerational Study

BACKGROUND

Childhood and adulthood socio-economic position (SEP) is associated with cardiovascular disease in later life, but associations with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are not well established.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of childhood and adulthood SEP with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia).

METHOD

Study participants were Swedish women (n=9507) from generation 3 of the Uppsala Birth Cohort Multigenerational Study (UBCoS Multigen) who delivered a live singleton offspring between 1982 and 2008. Social and health data were obtained from routine Swedish registers. Associations of own education (adulthood SEP), and parental education and social class (childhood SEP) with hypertensive disorders were studied using logistic regression with adjustments for age, calendar period, parity, smoking and body mass index.

RESULTS

Low own education was associated with chronic hypertension, but not with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Increased risk of chronic hypertension was seen in women whose mothers had medium education compared with women whose mothers had high education (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.62). Women from a manual social class during childhood had twice the risk of chronic hypertension compared with those from non-manual backgrounds (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.28 to 3.75). Childhood SEP was not associated with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia/eclampsia.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood and adulthood SEP was associated with chronic hypertension in pregnancy. In contrast, no association with childhood or adulthood SEP was seen for gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia/eclampsia.

The assay of hypertensin from the arterial blood of normotensive and hypertensive human beings

Hypertensin has been assayed in the blood of patients with normal blood pressure and in those with essential hypertension in both the benign and malignant phases. 250 ml. samples of arterial blood were obtained, chemically purified, and concentrated to a volume of 1 ml. These extracts were then assayed in anesthetized rats. The concentrations of hypertensin in the blood of patients with the malignant phase of essential hypertension were found to be greatly increased. The concentrations of hypertensin found in patients with benign hypertension had a moderate degree of overlapping with those found in the normotensive group, but the mean concentration of hypertensin in the former group was twice that of the controls. Although these results are statistically significant, the amounts of hypertensin recovered in the benign group are so small that no conclusions can be drawn as to its effectiveness in producing vasoconstriction in these patients.