Priority setting in cardiovascular research in Iran using standard indigenous methods

Update of the clinical guideline for hypertension diagnosis and treatment in Iran

BACKGROUND

This article introduces the updated version of the Iranian guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in adults. The initial version of the national guideline was developed in 2011 and updated in 2014. Among the reasons necessitating the update of this guideline were the passage of time, the incompleteness of the scopes, the limitation of the target group, and more important is the request of the ministry of health in Iran.

METHOD

The members of the guideline updating group, after reviewing the original version and the new evidence, prepared 10 clinical questions regarding hypertension, and based on the evidence found from the latest scientific documents, provided recommendations or suggestions to answer these questions.

RESULT

According to the updated guideline, the threshold for office prehypertension diagnosis should be considered the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130-139 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80-89 mmHg, and in adults under 75 years of age without comorbidities, the threshold for office hypertension diagnosis should be SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg. The goal of treatment in adults who lack comorbidities and risk factors is SBP < 140 mmHg and DBP < 90 mmHg. The first-line treatment recommended in people with prehypertension is lifestyle modification, while for those with hypertension, pharmacotherapy along with lifestyle modification. The threshold to start drug therapy is determined at SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg, and the first-line treatment is considered a drug or a combined pill of antihypertensive drugs, including ACEIs, ARBs, thiazide and thiazide-like agents, or CCBs. At the beginning of the pharmacotherapy, the Guideline Updating Group members suggested studying serum electrolytes, creatinine, lipid profile, fasting sugar, urinalysis, and an electrocardiogram. Regarding the visit intervals, monthly visits are suggested at the beginning of the treatment or in case of any change in the type or dosage of the drug until achieving the treatment goal, followed by every 3-to-6-month visits. Moreover, to reduce further complications, it was suggested that healthcare unit employees use telehealth strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

In this guideline, specific recommendations and suggestions have been presented for adults and subgroups like older people or those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and COVID-19.

Self-rated health and its determinants in patients with hypertension in Isfahan in 2019

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Self-rated health (SRH) serves as an assessment of contentment regarding one's social, mental, and physical well-being and has been linked to both cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Nonetheless, the relationship between SRH and medical outcomes in individuals with hypertension unsettled. This research endeavors to pinpoint the determinants that affect SRH in Iranian patients with hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study took place in Isfahan, Iran, from November 2018 to August 2019 and involved 886 patients with essential HTN. The data collection methods included a checklist for demographic information and risk factors, blood pressure measurements (systolic and diastolic), the Persian version of the 8-Item Morisky Medication Adherence scale, and a self-rated health questionnaire recommended by the World Health Organization. Independent sample T-test and chi squared test were used for comparison of variables between two groups of SRH. Additionally, multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing self-rated health status.

RESULTS

Among 886 participants (mean age 57.8 ± 8.8 years, 71.9% women), 89.62% reported good SRH. Comorbid conditions were significantly associated with poorer SRH (p < 0.05). Notably, higher education (odd ratio (OR) = 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-3.11, p = 0.015) and increased income (OR = 4.34, 95% CI = 1.43-13.18, p = 0.010) were identified as positive determinants of good SRH.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that socioeconomic factors (education and income) and comorbid conditions (diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and pulmonary diseases) are risk factors for poor SRH among hypertensive patients. These findings could help planning of health enhancement initiative.