Optimal blood pressure target in stroke prevention

Prevalence and control of hypertension in a high HIV-prevalence setting, insights from a population based study in Botswana

In a population-based representative sample of adults residing in 22 communities in Botswana, a southern African country with high HIV prevalence, 1 in 4 individuals had high blood pressure. High blood pressure was less prevalent in adults with HIV than without HIV. Sixty percent of persons with high blood pressure had not previously been diagnosed. Among individuals with a prior diagnosis of high blood pressure who reported being prescribed anti-hypertension medications, almost half had elevated blood pressure, irrespective of HIV-status. One-third of adults in this setting (mainly men) declined free non-invasive blood pressure assessments in their households. In conclusion, our study highlights alarmingly high hypertension rates in the community, with low levels of awareness and control, emphasizing the urgent need for community level BP screening and active management to reach recommended targets.

Hypertension evaluated in the public and private Brazilian health system hypertension in public and private service

Introduction

Hypertension (HT) remains the leading cause of death worldwide. In Brazil it is estimated that 35% of the adult population has HT and that about 20% of these have blood pressure values within the targets recommended for the reduction of cardiovascular risk. There are some data that point to different control rates in patients treated by cardiologists in public and private referral center and this is an important point to be investigated and discussed.

Objective

To compare sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), antihypertensive (AH) drugs, blood pressure (BP) and control rate in public (PURC) and private (PRRC) referral centers.

Methodology

A cross-sectional multicenter study that analyzed data from hypertensive patients assisted by the PURC (one in Midwest Region and other in Northeast region) and PRRC (same distribution). Variables analyzed: sex, age, BMI, classes, number of AH used and mean values of systolic and diastolic BP by office measurement and home blood pressure measurement (HBPM). Uncontrolled hypertension (HT) phenotypes and BP control rates were assessed. Descriptive statistics and χ2 tests or unpaired t-tests were performed. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered.

Results

A predominantly female (58.9%) sample of 2.956 patients and a higher prevalence of obesity in PURC (p < 0.001) and overweight in PRRC (p < 0.001). The mean AH used was 2.9 ± 1.5 for PURC and 1.4 ± 0.7 for PRRC (p < 0.001). Mean systolic and diastolic BP values were higher in PURC as were rates of uncontrolled HT of 67.8% and 47.6% (p < 0.001) by office measurement and 60.4% and 35.3% (p < 0.001) by HBPM in PURC and PRRC, respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with HT had a higher prevalence of obesity in the PURC and used almost twice as many AH drugs. BP control rates are worse in the PURC, on average 15.3 mmHg and 12.1 mmHg higher than in the PRRC by office measurement.

Evaluation and subgroup analysis of the efficacy and safety of intensive rosuvastatin therapy combined with dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the efficacy of intensive rosuvastatin therapy plus 7-day dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in reducing stroke recurrence for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and compared subgroups of patients.

METHODS

We enrolled patients with AIS whose time of onset to medication was ≤ 72 h, and the baseline scores of NIHSS (bNIHSS) were 0-10. The patients received intensive rosuvastatin therapy plus 7-day DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel (study group) or rosuvastatin plus single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT, control group). The primary outcomes were recurrence of ischemic stroke, bleeding, statin-induced liver injury, and statin-associated myopathy (SAM) within 90 days. We also performed a subgroup analysis to assess the heterogeneity of the two therapy regimens in reducing recurrent stroke.

RESULTS

Recurrent stroke occurred in 10 patients in the study group and 42 patients in the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.373, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.178-0.780; P = 0.009). Bleeding events occurred in 9 patients in the study group and 14 patients in the control group (HR, 1.019; 95%CI, 0.441-2.353; P = 0.966). Statin-induced liver injury and SAM were not recorded. Intensive rosuvastatin plus 7-day DAPT was generally effective in reducing the risk of recurrent stroke, except in the subgroup with bNIHSS ≤ 2. The therapy was particularly efficient in the elderly, male, high-bNIHSS, and hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia subgroups, with P < 0.02.

CONCLUSIONS

Without increasing bleeding and statin-associated adverse events, intensive rosuvastatin therapy plus 7-day DAPT significantly reduced the risk of recurrent stroke, especially for subgroups with high-risk factors.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

China Clinical Trial Registration Center (ChiCTR1800017809).

Low admission blood pressure as a marker of poor 1-year survival in patients with revascularized critical limb ischemia

OBJECTIVE

To contrast the association between blood pressure (BP) level and antihypertensive medications at hospital admission with 1-year mortality in patients undergoing revascularization for critical limb ischemia (CLI).

METHODS

From November 2013 to May 2019, 315 consecutive patients were retrospectively included. A median of seven (IQR 3-13) separate readings were recorded for each patient before revascularization procedure and the average represented patient's mean BP. BP-lowering medications, clinical and biological parameters were recorded at baseline. The main outcome was total 1-year mortality.

RESULTS

The cohort included 172 men (55%) and 143 women (45%), with a mean age of 77.9 ± 11.9 years. Treated hypertension was present in 245 (78%) patients; 288 (91%) patients had BP-lowering drug prescriptions (2.1 ± 1.3 medications at baseline). Mean SBP, DBP, mean BP (MBP) and pulse pressure (PP) were 132 ± 18, 70 ± 8, 90 ± 10 and 62 ± 16mmHg. During 1-year follow-up, 80 (25.4%) patients died. In single-pressure multivariate analysis, SBP (hazard ratio 0.97; 95% CI 0.96-0.99; P = 0.005), MBP (hazard ratio 0.96; 95% CI 0.92-0.99; P = 0.01), PP (hazard ratio 0.97; 95% CI 0.95-0.99; P = 0.009), but not DBP, were inversely correlated with 1-year mortality, independently of age, coronary heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, brain natriuretic peptide, serum albumin, institutionalized status and antihypertensive drugs. Association between SBP, MBP and PP with 1-year mortality had a quite linear reverse pattern.

CONCLUSION

Among patients undergoing revascularization for CLI, there is an inverse correlation between admission SBP, MBP and PP with 1-year mortality. BP may represent a modifiable therapeutic target to prevent poor outcome in CLI patients.

The ICF Classification System to Assess Risk Factors for CVD in Secondary Prevention after Ischemic Stroke and Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background and objectives: Patients with a history of prior stroke have a high risk for subsequent cardiovascular events (CVD). Therefore, the implementation of an effective strategy to reduce risk factors and thereby improve secondary prevention outcomes is crucial in this patient population. The aim of this study was to determine differences in the incidence of risk factors for recurrent CVD events based on clinical type of prior stroke and to characterize them using the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) classification system. Materials and Methods: The incidence of risk factors for recurrent CVD events were retrospectively analyzed in 109 patients with a history of ischemic stroke (IS) and 80 patients with a history of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within 14 days poststroke. Results: Atrial fibrillation/flutter (p = 0.031), >70% carotid artery stenosis (p = 0.004), blood pressure >140/90 mmHg (p = 0.025), blood HbA1c levels >7% (p = 0.002), smoking (p = 0.026) and NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) use (p < 0.001) were significantly more common in patients with a history of ischemic stroke. However, liver function test abnormalities were observed more commonly in patients with a history of hemorrhagic stroke (p = 0.025). Conclusions: The incidence and type of risk factors for recurrent CVD events vary according to the clinical type of prior stroke. The ICF classification system is a useful tool for evaluating these risk factors. This may help reduce the risk of subsequent CVD events.

[Improving blood pressure control after a stroke: The place of therapeutic education in the acute phase]

OBJECTIVES

At the Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital Group neurovascular unit, the therapeutic patient education program "Treatment of high blood pressure after stroke" involved integrating a vascular physician. The objectives were to include a significant number of patients, to integrate learning self-measurement, and to make an initial analysis of the results concerning patient knowledge, self-measurement practices, adherence to treatment, and control of blood pressure.

METHODS

Eighty-six patients under 90 years of age admitted to the neurovascular unit were included in the program between January 1 and October 31, 2017, and participated in an in-hospital educational diagnostic interview followed by an initial session. During this period, 30 patients were reviewed within 3 to 6 months after discharge, with a post-session evaluation for 22 of them. Patient satisfaction was assessed with a questionnaire. A questionnaire was also proposed to the staff.

RESULTS

The mean blood pressure of the 22 patients reviewed was on target and they had improved their level of knowledge. The number of sphygmomanometers increased from 5 to 20, but the practice of cycles was not yet mastered. Levels of observed compliance changed little. Patients and paramedics appreciated the program and were convinced of its usefulness. These results do not support a direct effect of therapeutic patient education on blood pressure control, but the observed results are positive and encouraging.

[Recommendations on the treatment of hypertension in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke]

Stroke continues to be one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. One of the main problems with a patient who has survived from a stroke is the possibility of developing a new vascular episode again. Hypertension is the modifiable vascular risk factor with the greatest impact for both primary prevention and stroke recurrence. The Group for the study of Hypertension and Brain (GEHYC) from the Spanish Society of Hypertension aims to spread the importance of strict control of blood pressure in order to prevent cerebrovascular diseases. In this article, this multidisciplinary Group reviews the latest evidence regarding antihypertensive treatment and secondary prevention of ischemic stroke.

Neuroimaging Signatures of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease at Blood Pressure Cutoff Levels of 130/80 and 140/90 mmHg: A Population-Based Study in Community-Dwellers Aged ≥ 60 Years

INTRODUCTION

Recent guidelines suggest that a blood pressure cutoff of 130/80 mmHg should be used to define arterial hypertension. This contrasts with the previously accepted cutoff of 140/90 mmHg.

AIM

Using the Atahualpa Project cohort, we aimed to assess the cutoff that better correlates with signatures of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), which are related to arterial hypertension.

METHODS

Of 437 Atahualpa residents aged ≥ 60 years, 363 (83%) underwent brain MRI and blood pressure determinations. Using logistic regression models, we evaluated the association between SVD and the two different cutoffs, after adjusting for demographics and cardiovascular risk factors. Using receiver operator characteristics curve analysis, we calculated sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the curve for the predictive value of the two cutoffs for detecting signatures of SVD.

RESULTS

A comparison between the old and new cutoffs showed no differences in the ability to predict subjects with white matter hyperintensities, deep cerebral microbleeds or basal ganglia perivascular spaces. However, the new cutoff improved the identification of individuals with lacunar infarctions, which went from no association using the old cutoff (p = 0.097) to a significant association using the new cutoff (p = 0.036). The new cutoff was more sensitive but less specific than the old cutoff for identifying signatures of cerebral SVD. Areas under the curve were non-significantly higher for the old than for the new cutoffs for all the lesions of interest.

CONCLUSIONS

The new blood pressure cutoff is consistently more sensitive but less specific than the old cutoff for detecting signatures of cerebral SVD. The most striking effect of the new cutoff is the improvement in the identification of lacunar infarctions.