Therapeutic interventions for hypertension in metabolic syndrome: a comprehensive approach

Yoga training modulates adipokines in adults with high-normal blood pressure and metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Our previous study indicated that people with MetS showed a decrease in waist circumference and a decreasing trend in blood pressure after 1-year yoga. This study investigated the effect of yoga on MetS people with high-normal blood pressure by exploring modulations in proinflammatory adipokines (leptin, chemerin, visfatin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 or PAI-1) and an anti-inflammatory adipokine (adiponectin). A total of 97 Hong Kong Chinese individuals aged 57.6 ± 9.1 years with MetS and high-normal blood pressure were randomly assigned to control (n = 45) and yoga groups (n = 52). Participants in the control group were not given any intervention but were contacted monthly to monitor their health status. Participants in the yoga group underwent a yoga training program with three 1-hour yoga sessions weekly for 1 year. The participants' sera were harvested and assessed for adipokines. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine the interaction effect between 1-year time (pre vs post), and intervention (control vs yoga). GEE analyses revealed significant interaction effects between 1-year time and yoga intervention for the decreases in leptin and chemerin and the increase in adiponectin concentration in the sera examined. These results demonstrated that 1-year yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokine in adults with MetS and high-normal blood pressure. These findings support the beneficial role of yoga in managing MetS by favorably modulating adipokines.

Quality issues of self-report of hypertension: analysis of a population representative sample of older adults in Taiwan

The study was to evaluate the quality of self-report of hypertension and examine the factors associated with under- and over-reporting of hypertension in older Taiwanese. Data for this analysis were from the Social Environment and Biomarkers Study in Taiwan 2000, which involved a national sample of 1021 Taiwanese over 54 years of age. We performed binary classification tests to compare the prevalence rates of self-reported vs. clinically measured hypertension according to World Health Organization (WHO) (blood pressure ≥ 160/95 mm Hg or on hypertension medication) and JNC-6 (140/90 mm Hg or on hypertension medication) definitions. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the potential factors associated with under- or over-reporting of blood pressure status. Results showed the test characteristics of self-reports were: sensitivity 73%, specificity 93%, and kappa = 0.68 (p < 0.001) based on the WHO definition; and sensitivity 51%, specificity 95% and kappa = 0.43 (p < 0.001) based on the JNC-6 definition. Old age was associated with over-reporting whereas having no health checkup during the past 12 months was associated with under-reporting. The relatively low agreement between self-reports and clinically measured hypertension (JNC-6 definition) was mainly due to the lack of a well-defined hypertension practice guideline and the failure of clinicians to clearly inform patients of their diagnoses. The consistency of hypertension practice guidelines and the effectiveness of informing the patients of their diagnoses are two main factors impacting the quality of self-report of hypertension in elderly Taiwanese. Better self-reports of health data can improve the efficiency of public health surveillance efforts.