Lancet Commission on Hypertension group position statement on the global improvement of accuracy standards for devices that measure blood pressure

: The Lancet Commission on Hypertension identified that a key action to address the worldwide burden of high blood pressure (BP) was to improve the quality of BP measurements by using BP devices that have been validated for accuracy. Currently, there are over 3000 commercially available BP devices, but many do not have published data on accuracy testing according to established scientific standards. This problem is enabled through weak or absent regulations that allow clearance of devices for commercial use without formal validation. In addition, new BP technologies have emerged (e.g. cuffless sensors) for which there is no scientific consensus regarding BP measurement accuracy standards. Altogether, these issues contribute to the widespread availability of clinic and home BP devices with limited or uncertain accuracy, leading to inappropriate hypertension diagnosis, management and drug treatment on a global scale. The most significant problems relating to the accuracy of BP devices can be resolved by the regulatory requirement for mandatory independent validation of BP devices according to the universally-accepted International Organisation for Standardization Standard. This is a primary recommendation for which there is an urgent international need. Other key recommendations are development of validation standards specifically for new BP technologies and online lists of accurate devices that are accessible to consumers and health professionals. Recommendations are aligned with WHO policies on medical devices and universal healthcare. Adherence to recommendations would increase the global availability of accurate BP devices and result in better diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, thus decreasing the worldwide burden from high BP.

Arterial stiffness, central hemodynamics, and cardiovascular risk in hypertension

This review summarizes several scientific contributions at the recent Satellite Symposium of the European Society of Hypertension, held in Milan, Italy. Arterial stiffening and its hemodynamic consequences can be easily and reliably measured using a range of noninvasive techniques. However, like blood pressure (BP) measurements, arterial stiffness should be measured carefully under standardized patient conditions. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity has been proposed as the gold standard for arterial stiffness measurement and is a well recognized predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcome. Systolic BP and pulse pressure in the ascending aorta may be lower than pressures measured in the upper limb, especially in young individuals. A number of studies suggest closer correlation of end-organ damage with central BP than with peripheral BP, and central BP may provide additional prognostic information regarding cardiovascular risk. Moreover, BP-lowering drugs can have differential effects on central aortic pressures and hemodynamics compared with brachial BP. This may explain the greater beneficial effect provided by newer antihypertensive drugs beyond peripheral BP reduction. Although many methodological problems still hinder the wide clinical application of parameters of arterial stiffness, these will likely contribute to cardiovascular assessment and management in future clinical practice. Each of the abovementioned parameters reflects a different characteristic of the atherosclerotic process, involving functional and/or morphological changes in the vessel wall. Therefore, acquiring simultaneous measurements of different parameters of vascular function and structure could theoretically enhance the power to improve risk stratification. Continuous technological effort is necessary to refine our methods of investigation in order to detect early arterial abnormalities. Arterial stiffness and its consequences represent the great challenge of the twenty-first century for affluent countries, and "de-stiffening" will be the goal of the next decades.

Glomerular hyperfiltration is a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes

The association between glomerular hyperfiltration and cardiovascular events is not well known. To investigate whether glomerular hyperfiltration is independently associated with risk of adverse outcome we analyzed 8794 participants, average age 52 years enrolled in 8 prospective studies. Of these, 89% had hypertension. Using the 5th and 95th percentiles of the age- and sex-specific quintiles of CKD-EPI-calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we identified three participant groups with low, high and normal eGFR. The ambulatory pulse pressure interval was wider and nighttime blood pressure fall was smaller in both the low and high than in the normal eGFR participants. During a mean follow-up of 6.2 years, there were 722 cardiovascular events. Crude event rates were significantly higher for both high (1.8 per 100-person-year) and low eGFR groups (2.1 per 100 person-year) as compared with group with normal eGFR (1.2 per 100 person-year). In multivariable Cox models including age, sex, average 24-hour blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and cholesterol, both high eGFR (hazard ratio 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.2-2.1) and low eGFR (2.0 [1.5-2.6]) participants had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events as compared to those with normal eGFR. Addition of body mass index to the multivariable survival model did not change the magnitude of hazard estimates. Thus, glomerular hyperfiltration is a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular events in a large multiethnic population of predominantly hypertensive individuals. Our findings support a U-shaped relationship between eGFR and adverse outcome.

Predictive value of night-time heart rate for cardiovascular events in hypertension. The ABP-International study

BACKGROUND

Data from prospective cohort studies regarding the association between ambulatory heart rate (HR) and cardiovascular events (CVE) are conflicting.

METHODS

To investigate whether ambulatory HR predicts CVE in hypertension, we performed 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and HR monitoring in 7600 hypertensive patients aged 52 ± 16 years from Italy, U.S.A., Japan, and Australia, included in the 'ABP-International' registry. All were untreated at baseline examination. Standardized hazard ratios for ambulatory HRs were computed, stratifying for cohort, and adjusting for age, gender, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, serum total cholesterol and serum creatinine.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 5.0 years there were 639 fatal and nonfatal CVE. In a multivariable Cox model, night-time HR predicted fatal combined with nonfatal CVE more closely than 24h HR (p=0.007 and =0.03, respectively). Daytime HR and the night:day HR ratio were not associated with CVE (p=0.07 and =0.18, respectively). The hazard ratio of the fatal combined with nonfatal CVE for a 10-beats/min increment of the night-time HR was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.04-1.22). This relationship remained significant when subjects taking beta-blockers during the follow-up (hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25) or subjects who had an event within 5 years after enrollment (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05-1.45) were excluded from analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

At variance with previous data obtained from general populations, ambulatory HR added to the risk stratification for fatal combined with nonfatal CVE in the hypertensive patients from the ABP-International study. Night-time HR was a better predictor of CVE than daytime HR.

Blood pressure variability: methodological aspects, clinical relevance and practical indications for management - a European Society of Hypertension position paper ∗

Blood pressure is not a static parameter, but rather undergoes continuous fluctuations over time, as a result of the interaction between environmental and behavioural factors on one side and intrinsic cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms on the other side. Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) may indicate an impaired cardiovascular regulation and may represent a cardiovascular risk factor itself, having been associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and dementia incidence. Nonetheless, BPV was considered only a research issue in previous hypertension management guidelines, because the available evidence on its clinical relevance presents several gaps and is based on heterogeneous studies with limited standardization of methods for BPV assessment. The aim of this position paper, with contributions from members of the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring and Cardiovascular Variability and from a number of international experts, is to summarize the available evidence in the field of BPV assessment methodology and clinical applications and to provide practical indications on how to measure and interpret BPV in research and clinical settings based on currently available data. Pending issues and clinical and methodological recommendations supported by available evidence are also reported. The information provided by this paper should contribute to a better standardization of future studies on BPV, but should also provide clinicians with some indications on how BPV can be managed based on currently available data.

Changing patterns in HIV-1 non-B clade prevalence and diversity in Italy over three decades

BACKGROUND

HIV-1 non-B subtypes have recently entered Western Europe following immigration from other regions. The distribution of non-B clades and their association with demographic factors, over the entire course of the HIV-1 epidemic, have not been fully investigated in Italy.

METHODS

We carried out a phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 pol sequences derived from 3670 patients followed at 50 Italian clinical centres over nearly three decades.

RESULTS

Overall, 417 patients (11.4%) carried non-B subtypes. The prevalence of non-B strains increased from 2.6% in 1980-1992 to 18.9% in 1993-2008 (P<0.0001) in a subset of 2479 subjects with a known year of diagnosis. A multivariate analysis on a subset of 1364 patients for whom relevant demographic data were available indicated that African ethnicity, heterosexual route of infection and year of diagnosis were independently associated with non-B HIV-1 infection (P ≤ 0.0001). All pure subtypes, except for clade K, and seven circulating recombinant forms were detected, accounting for 56.6 and 34.1% of the non-B infections, respectively. The F1 subtype was the most prevalent non-B clade among Europeans and was acquired heterosexually in half of this patient population. Unique recombinant forms accounted for 9.4% of the non-B sequences and showed a B/F1 recombination pattern in one-third of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The circulation of non-B clades has significantly increased in Italy in association with demographic changes. Spread of the F1 subtype and B/F recombinants appears to predominate, which may result in a redistribution of the relative proportions of the different strains, and this could lead to overlapping epidemics. Thus, the HIV-1 landscape in Italy may in future be distinct from that of the rest of Europe.

Resting heart rate as a predictor of body weight gain in the early stage of hypertension

We did a prospective study to investigate whether clinic heart rate (HR) and 24-h ambulatory HR were independent predictors of subsequent increase in body weight (BW) in young subjects screened for stage 1 hypertension. The study was conducted in 1,008 subjects from the Hypertension and Ambulatory Recording Venetia Study (HARVEST) followed for an average of 7 years. Ambulatory HR was obtained in 701 subjects. Data were adjusted for lifestyle factors and several confounders. During the follow-up BW increased by 2.1 ± 7.2 kg in the whole cohort. Both baseline clinic HR (P = 0.007) and 24-h HR (P = 0.013) were independent predictors of BMI at study end. In addition, changes in HR during the follow-up either measured in the clinic (P = 0.036) or with 24-h recording (P = 0.009) were independent associates of final BMI. In a multivariable Cox regression, baseline BMI (P < 0.001), male gender (P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (BP) (P = 0.01), baseline clinic HR (P = 0.02), and follow-up changes in clinic HR (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of overweight (Ov) or obesity (Ob) at the end of the follow-up. Follow-up changes in ambulatory HR (P = 0.01) were also independent predictors of Ov or Ob. However, when both clinic and ambulatory HRs were included in the same Cox model, only baseline clinic HR and its change during the follow-up were independent predictors of outcome. In conclusion, baseline clinic HR and HR changes during the follow-up are independent predictors of BW gain in young persons screened for stage 1 hypertension suggesting that sympathetic nervous system activity may play a role in the development of Ob in hypertension.

Factors associated with glomerular hyperfiltration in the early stage of hypertension

BACKGROUND

Glomerular hyperfiltration predicts development of nephropathy in hypertension but the factors responsible for increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are not well known. Aim of this study was to examine which clinical variables influence GFR in the early stage of hypertension.

METHODS

Participants were 1,106 young-to-middle-age hypertensive adults with creatinine clearance >60 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Clinic and ambulatory blood pressures (BPs) were measured and the difference between clinic and 24-h systolic BP was defined as the white-coat effect (WCE). In 606 participants, 24-h urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine were also measured. Glomerular hyperfiltration, defined as a GFR ≥150 ml/min/1.73 m(2), was present in 201 subjects.

RESULTS

Patients' mean age was 33.1 ± 8.5 years and office BP was 146 ± 10.5/94 ± 5.0 mm Hg. In multivariable linear regression, significant predictors of GFR were younger age (P < 0.0001), male gender (P < 0.0001), 24-h systolic BP (P = 0.0001), body mass (P < 0.0001), WCE (P = 0.02), log-epinephrine (P = 0.01), and coffee use (P < 0.01). In a logistic model, independent predictors of glomerular hyperfiltration were obesity (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 6.1, 3.8-9.8), male gender (2.9, 1.8-4.9), age <33 years (2.1, 1.5-3.1), ambulatory hypertension (2.0, 1.4-3.0), WCE >15 mm Hg (1.6, 1.1-2.3), heavy coffee use (2.0, 1.1-3.8), and epinephrine >25 mcg/24 h (1.9, 1.2-3.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The novel finding of this study is that hyper-reactivity to stress, as determined by urinary epinephrine level and WCE, and coffee use contribute to determining glomerular hyperfiltration in the early stage of hypertension. Our data may help to identify a subset of patients with glomerular hyperfiltration, who may be at increased risk of chronic kidney disease and may benefit from antihypertensive treatment.

Premenopausal women have increased risk of hypertensive target organ damage compared with men of similar age

BACKGROUND

The impact of high blood pressure (BP) on target organs (TO) in premenopausal women is not well known. The purpose of this study was to describe gender differences in TO involvement in a cohort of young-to-middle-aged subjects screened for stage 1 hypertension and followed for 8.2 years.

METHODS

Participants were 175 women and 451 men with similar age (range 18-45 years). Ambulatory BP at entry was 127.5±12.5/83.7±7.2 mm Hg in women and 131.9±10.3/81.0±7.9 mm Hg in men. Ambulatory BP, albumin excretion rate (AER), and echocardiographic data (n=489) were obtained at entry, every 5 years, and before starting antihypertensive treatment.

RESULTS

Female gender was an independent predictor of final AER (p=0.01) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (p<0.001). At follow-up end, both microalbuminuria (13.7% vs. 6.2%, p=0.002) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (26.4% vs. 8.8%, p<0.0001) were more common among women than men. In a multivariable Cox analysis, after adjusting for age, lifestyle factors, body mass, ambulatory BP, heart rate, and parental hypertension, female gender was a significant predictor of time to development of microalbuminuria (p=0.002), with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.06, (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48-6.34) and of LVH (p=0.004), with an HR of 2.50 (1.33-4.70). Inclusion of systolic and diastolic BP changes over time in the models only marginally affected these associations, with HRs of 3.13 (1.50-6.55) and 3.43 (1.75-6.70), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that premenopausal women have an increased risk of hypertensive TO damage (TOD) and raise the question about whether early antihypertensive treatment should be considered in these patients.

Effects of smoking on central blood pressure and pressure amplification in hypertension of the young

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on peripheral and central blood pressure (BP) in a group of young stage I hypertensives. A total of 344 untreated subjects from the HARVEST study were examined (mean age 37±10 years). Patients were divided into three groups based on smoking status: non-smokers, light smokers (⩽5 cigarettes/day) and moderate-to-heavy smokers (>5 cigarettes/day); and into three groups by age: 18–29, 30–39 and ⩾40 years. Central BP measurements and augmentation index (AIx) were calculated from brachial pressure waveform, with applanation tonometry, by means of the Specaway DAT System plus a Millar tonometer. The central waveform was derived from peripheral BP using the same software system of the SphygmoCor System pulse wave analysis. In addition, two indirect measurements of arterial stiffness were calculated: pulse pressure (PP) and systolic BP amplification. Central systolic BP and PP were higher in smokers than in non-smokers (systolic BP: 121.9±13.1 mmHg in non-smokers, 127.2±16.5 mmHg in light smokers, 126.7±15.3 mmHg in those who smoked >5 cigarettes/day, p=0.009; PP: 37.7±9.8 mmHg, 41.5±13.1 mmHg, 41.9±10.5 mmHg, respectively, p=0.005). Lower systolic BP amplification ( p<0.001) and PP amplification ( p=0.001) were observed in smokers compared to non-smokers. In a two-way ANCOVA analysis, systolic BP amplification markedly declined across the three age groups ( p=0.0002) and from non-smokers to smokers ( p=0.0001), with a significant interaction between smoking and age group ( p=0.05). The AIx was higher in smokers compared to non-smokers ( p=0.024). In young hypertensives, smoking has a detrimental effect on central BP, accelerating the age-related decline in BP amplification.

Evolution of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance and viral subtypes circulation in Italy from 2006 to 2016

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to evaluate the evolution of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance (TDR) prevalence in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients from 2006 to 2016.

METHODS

HIV-1 sequences were retrieved from the Antiviral Response Cohort Analysis (ARCA) database and TDR was defined as detection of at least one mutation from the World Health Organization (WHO) surveillance list.

RESULTS

We included protease/reverse transcriptase sequences from 3573 patients; 455 had also integrase sequences. Overall, 68.1% of the patients were Italian, the median CD4 count was 348 cells/μL [interquartile range (IQR) 169-521 cells/μL], and the median viral load was 4.7 log₁₀ HIV-1 RNA copies/mL (IQR 4.1-5.3 log₁₀ copies/mL). TDR was detected in 10.3% of patients: 6% carried mutations to nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), 4.4% to nonnucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), 2.3% to protease inhibitors (PIs), 0.2% to integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) and 2.1% to at least two drug classes. TDR declined from 14.5% in 2006 to 7.3% in 2016 (P = 0.003): TDR to NRTIs from 9.9 to 2.9% (P = 0.003) and TDR to NNRTIs from 5.1 to 3.7% (P = 0.028); PI TDR remained stable. The proportion carrying subtype B virus declined from 76.5 to 50% (P < 0.001). The prevalence of TDR was higher in subtype B vs. non-B (12.6 vs. 4.9%, respectively; P < 0.001) and declined significantly in subtype B (from 17.1 to 8.8%; P = 0.04) but not in non-B subtypes (from 6.1 to 5.8%; P = 0.44). Adjusting for country of origin, predictors of TDR were subtype B [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for subtype B vs. non-B 2.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.93-4.39; P < 0.001], lower viral load (per log₁₀ higher: AOR 0.86; 95% CI 0.75-0.99; P = 0.03), site in northern Italy (AOR for southern Italy/island vs. northern Italy, 0.61; 95% CI 0.40-0.91; P = 0.01), and earlier calendar year (per 1 year more recent: AOR 0.95; 95% CI 0.91-0.99; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of HIV-1 TDR has declined during the last 10 years in Italy.

Office Pulse Pressure Is a Predictor of Favorable Outcome in Young- to Middle-Aged Subjects With Stage 1 Hypertension

The role of pulse pressure in young individuals remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical significance of elevated pulse pressure in young- to middle-aged subjects screened for stage 1 hypertension. We examined 1241 subjects (mean age, 33.1±8.4 years) from the HARVEST (Hypertension Ambulatory Recording Venetia Study), during a median follow-up of 12.1 years. To evaluate the predictive value of pulse pressure and mean blood pressure for future hypertension needing treatment and for cardiovascular events, participants were grouped into pressure tertiles. Significant determinants of pulse pressure were male sex (P=0.029), younger age (P<0.001), physical activity (P=0.003), heart rate (P<0.001), systolic white coat effect (P<0.001), and stroke volume (n=829; P<0.001). During follow-up, 65.1% of participants developed hypertension requiring pharmacological treatment and 5.1% experienced a cardiovascular event. Participants in the highest pulse pressure tertile had a reduced risk of incident hypertension compared with those of the bottom tertile (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.91; P=0.003). In contrast, participants in the top mean blood pressure tertile had an increase in risk (1.91; 1.57-2.33; P<0.001). In addition, participants in the highest pulse pressure tertile had a reduced risk of cardiovascular events (0.35; 0.17-0.73; P=0.005) and those in the top mean blood pressure tertile had an increase in risk (3.06; 1.32-7.09; P=0.009). Our data show that in subjects <45 years, only mean blood pressure is a predictor of adverse outcome whereas high pulse pressure even carries a reduced risk.

Diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive emergencies and urgencies among Italian emergency and intensive care departments. Results from an Italian survey: Progetto GEAR (Gestione dell'Emergenza e urgenza in ARea critica)

Hypertensive emergencies (HE) and urgencies (HU) are frequent causes of patients referral to Emergency Department (ED) and the approach may be different according to local clinical practice. Our aim was to explore awareness, management, treatment and counselling after discharge of HE and HU in Italy, by mean of an on-line survey. The young investigator research group of the Italian Society of Hypertension developed a 23-item questionnaire spread by e-mail invitation to the members of Italian Scientific societies in the field of Hypertension. 665 questionnaires were collected from EDs, Emergency and Urgency Medicine, Cardiology or Coronary Units, Internal Medicines, Intensive care, Stroke units. Symptoms considered suspicious of acute organ damage were: chest pain (89.0%), visual disturbances (89.8%), dyspnoea (82.7%), headache (82.1%), dizziness (52.0%), conjunctival haemorrhages (41.5%), tinnitus (38.2%) and epistaxis (34.4%). Exams more frequent prescribed were: electrocardiogram (97.2%), serum creatinine (91.4%), markers of cardiomyocyte necrosis (66.2%), echocardiography (65.1%). The use of intravenous or oral medications to treat HEs was 94.7% and 3.5%, while for HUs 24.4% and 70.8% respectively. Of note, a surprisingly high percentage of physicians (22 % overall, 24.5% in North Italy) used to prescribe sublingual nifedipine. After discharge, home blood pressure monitoring and general practitioner re-evaluation were more frequently suggested, while ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and hypertension specialist examination were less prescribed. The differences observed across the different macro-areas, regarded prescription of diagnostic test and drug administration. This survey depicts a complex situation of shades and lights in the real-life management of HE and HU in Italy.

Blood Pressure Hyperreactivity to Standing: a Predictor of Adverse Outcome in Young Hypertensive Patients

The prognostic significance and the mechanisms of blood pressure (BP) hyperreactivity to standing remain controversial. This study aims to evaluate the association of orthostatic hyperreactivity with major adverse cardiovascular and renal events in a cohort of young hypertensive subjects. We studied 1207 untreated subjects screened for stage I hypertension with a mean age of 33.1±8.6 years. The orthostatic BP change was calculated as the difference between 6 standing and 6 supine BP readings obtained during 2 separate visits. Hyperreactivity to standing was defined as the standing-supine systolic BP difference in the top decile. The mean difference in the whole group was -2.5±7.3/4.6±5.4 mm Hg. Ambulatory hypertension evaluated with 24-hour recordings was more common in Hyperreactors than Normoreactors (90.8% versus 76.4%, P=0.001). In 630 participants in whom 24-hour urinary catecholamines were measured, epinephrine/creatinine ratio was higher in hyperreactors (118.4±185.6 versus 77.0±90.1 nmol/mol, P=0.005). During a 17.2-year follow-up, 105 major adverse cardiovascular and renal events were accrued. In a multivariate Cox model, hyperreactivity to standing was an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular and renal events with a hazard ratio of 1.97 (95% CI, 1.10-3.52). Hyperreactivity remained an independent predictor of adverse events even when ambulatory BP data and incident hypertension during follow-up were included in the Cox model (hazard ratio, 1.94 [95% CI, 1.10-3.44]). Our data indicate that in young-to-middle-age hypertensive subjects an exaggerated systolic BP response to standing is associated with sympatho-adrenergic hyperreactivity and is an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular and renal events. Orthostatic BP assessment gives the advantage of simple acquisition and provides prognostic information on top of ambulatory BP.

Coffee consumption and risk of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. Results from the HARVEST

BACKGROUND

Controversy still exists about the long-term cardiovascular effects of coffee consumption in hypertension.

METHODS

The predictive capacity of coffee use for cardiovascular events (CVEs) was investigated in 1204 participants from the HARVEST, a prospective cohort study of non-diabetic subjects aged 18-45years, screened for stage 1 hypertension. Subjects were grouped into three categories of coffee drinking, non-drinkers (none), moderate drinkers (1 to 3cups/day) and heavy drinkers (4or more cups/day). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were developed adjusting for possible confounding variables and risk factors.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12.6years, CVEs were developed by 60 participants. CVEs were more common among coffee drinkers than abstainers (abstainers, 2.2%; moderate drinkers, 7.0%; heavy drinkers, 14.0%; p for trend=0.0003). In a multivariable Cox regression model, coffee use was a significant predictor of CVE in both coffee categories, with a hazard ratio of 2.8 (95% CI, 1.0-7.9) in moderate coffee drinkers and of 4.5 (1.4-14.2) in heavy drinkers compared to abstainers. After inclusion of change in body weight (p=ns), incident hypertension (p=0.027) and presence of diabetes/prediabetes (p=ns) at follow-up end, the association with CVE was attenuated but remained significant in heavy coffee drinkers (HR, 95% CI, 3.4, 1.04-11.3).

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that coffee consumption increases the risk of CVE in a linear fashion in hypertension. This association may be explained in part by the association between coffee and development of hypertension. Hypertensive patients should be discouraged from drinking coffee.

Association of Extreme Nocturnal Dipping With Cardiovascular Events Strongly Depends on Age

Whether extreme dipping is associated with cardiovascular events (CVE) is unclear. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the prognostic role of extreme dipping varies as a function of age. The analysis was performed in 10 868 participants (53% men) aged 53±15 (mean±SD) years enrolled in 8 prospective studies. Using the ambulatory systolic blood pressure nocturnal decline, we identified 4 groups: dippers (>10%–20%), nondippers (>0%–10%), reverse dippers (≤0%), and extreme dippers (>20%). The association between dipping category and CVE was estimated as a function of age using Cox models adjusted for sex, average 24-hour systolic blood pressure, and traditional risk factors. During a median follow-up of 5.7 years, there were a total of 829 CVE (168 fatal). For extreme dippers, no increase in risk of CVE was observed among the participants <70 years (hazard ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.73–1.34]; P =0.93) compared with dippers. In contrast, among the participants ≥70 years, there was a significant increase in risk (hazard ratio, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.14–3.11]; P =0.013). Among the octogenarians, the hazard ratio (95% CI) for CVE were 2.34 (1.12–4.93) for nondippers ( P =0.024), 3.91 (1.75–8.73) for reverse dippers ( P =0.001), and 4.12 (1.64–10.37) for extreme dippers ( P =0.003) compared with dippers. These data show that extreme dipping is not associated with poorer outcome in people younger than 70 years. A U-shaped relationship between nocturnal blood pressure dipping and adverse outcome is present in subjects older than 70 years. In the octogenarian extreme dippers, the risk of CVEs was 4× higher than in the dippers and similar to that in the reverse dippers.

Relationship between GFR and albuminuria in stage 1 hypertension

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Whether glomerular hyperfiltration is implicated in the development of microalbuminuria in hypertension is not well known. This prospective study investigated the relationship between changes in GFR and microalbuminuria in hypertension.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

This study assessed 534 stage 1 hypertensive participants from the Hypertension and Ambulatory Recording Venetia Study (n=386 men) without microalbuminuria at baseline, who were recruited from 1990 to 1995 and followed for a median of 8.5 years. Mean age was 33.9±8.6 years and mean BP was 146.6±10.5/94.0±5.0 mmHg. Creatinine clearance and 24-hour urinary albumin were measured at study entry and end. Participants were defined as normofilterers (normo) or hyperfilterers (hyper) according to whether GFR was <150 or ≥150 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), respectively. Participants were divided into four groups based on GFR changes from baseline to follow-up end: normo→normo (n=395), normo→hyper (n=31), hyper→hyper (n=61), and hyper→normo (n=47).

RESULTS

Microalbuminuria progressively increased across the four groups and was 5.3% in normo→normo, 9.7% in normo→hyper, 16.4% in hyper→hyper, and 36.2% in hyper→normo (P<0.001). This association held true in a multivariable logistic regression in which several confounders, ambulatory BP, and other risk factors were taken into account (P<0.001). In particular, hyperfilterers whose GFR decreased to normal at study end had an adjusted odds ratio of 7.8 (95% confidence interval, 3.3-18.2) for development of microalbuminuria compared with participants with normal GFR throughout the study.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the hypothesis for a parabolic association between GFR and urinary albumin in the early stage of hypertension.

Regular physical activity is associated with improved small artery distensibility in young to middle-age stage 1 hypertensives

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of physical activity with small artery elasticity in the early stage of hypertension. We examined 366 young-to-middle-age stage 1 hypertensives (mean blood pressure 145.6±10.3/92.5±5.8 mmHg), divided into two categories of physical activity, sedentary (n=264) and non-sedentary (n=102) subjects. The augmentation index was measured using the Specaway DAT System. Small artery compliance (C2) was measured by applanation tonometry, at the radial artery, with an HDI CR2000 device. After 6 years of follow-up, arterial distensibility assessment was repeated in 151 subjects. Heart rate was lower in active than in sedentary subjects (71.2±8.9 vs 76.6±9.7 bpm, p<0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, heart rate, smoking, and blood pressure, C2 was higher (8.0±2.6 vs 6.4±3.0 ml/mmHg × 100, p=0.008) in non-sedentary than in sedentary patients. The augmentation index was smaller in the former (8.8±20.1 vs 16.8±26.5%, p=0.044) but the difference lost statistical significance after further adjustment for blood pressure. After 6 years, C2 was still higher in the non-sedentary than sedentary subjects. In addition, an improvement in the augmentation index accompanied by a decline in total peripheral resistance was found in the former. These data show that regular physical activity is associated with improved small artery elasticity in the early phase of hypertension. This association persists over time and is independent of blood pressure and heart rate.

Short-Term but not Long-Term Blood Pressure Variability Is a Predictor of Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Young Untreated Hypertensives

BACKGROUND

Whether blood pressure variability (BPV) measured with ambulatory monitoring (short-term BPV) or computed from office visits (long-term BPV) are related to each other and carry similar prognostic information is not well known. We investigated the independent determinants of short-term and long-term BPVs and their predictive capacity for the development of major adverse cardiovascular and renal events (MACEs) in a cohort of young hypertensive participants.

METHODS

Long-term BPV was calculated as visit-to-visit SD and average real variability from office blood pressure (BP) measured during 7 visits, within 1 year. Short-term BPV was calculated as weighted 24-hour SD and coefficient of variation. Hazard ratios (HRs) for risk of MACE were computed from multivariable Cox regressions.

RESULTS

1,167 participants were examined; mean age was 33.1 ± 8.5 years. Variables independently associated with 24-hour systolic SD were 24-hour systolic BP, low physical activity, smoking, baseline office pulse pressure, systolic BP dipping, and diastolic white coat effect, while those associated with long-term BPV were mean systolic BP, age, female gender, and baseline office heart rate. During a median follow-up of 17.4 years 75 MACEs occurred. In Cox analysis only short-term BPV resulted a significant predictor of MACE (HR, 1.31 (1.07-1.59); P = 0.0086), while no index of long-term BPV was independently associated with outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In young hypertensive subjects only short-term BPV resulted a significant predictor of MACE on top of traditional ambulatory BP monitoring parameters. Whether reduction of short-term BPV with therapy may reduce the cardiovascular risk independently from the effects on 24-hour BP is a matter for future research.

Alcohol Intake More than Doubles the Risk of Early Cardiovascular Events in Young Hypertensive Smokers

PURPOSE

An interactive effect of tobacco and alcohol use has been described for cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the joint effect of smoking and alcohol intake on major adverse cardiovascular and renal events (MACE) in young subjects screened for stage 1 hypertension.

METHODS

A total of 1204 untreated patients aged from 18 to 45 years (mean 33.1) were included in this prospective cohort study. Subjects were classified into 4 categories of cigarette smoking and 3 classes of alcohol use. Main outcome variable was risk for MACE.

RESULTS

During a 12.6-year follow-up, there were 74 fatal and nonfatal MACE. In multivariable Cox models, current smoking and alcohol drinking were associated with risk of MACE. In a multivariable model also including follow-up changes in blood pressure and body weight, hazard ratio (HR) was 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-1.83) for smoking and was 1.82 (95% CI, 1.05-3.15) for alcohol use. In addition, an interactive effect was found between smoking and alcohol on risk of MACE (P <.001). Among the 142 smokers who also drank alcoholic beverages, the risk of MACE (HR 4.02; 95% CI, 1.98-8.15) was more than doubled compared with the 112 smokers who abstained from drinking (HR 1.64; 95% CI, 0.63-4.27). In the group of heavy smokers who also were alcohol drinkers (n = 51), the risk of MACE was even quadrupled (HR 7.79; 95% CI, 4.22-14.37).

CONCLUSION

Alcohol use potentiates the deleterious cardiovascular effects of heavy smoking in stage 1 hypertensive subjects younger than 45 years. These results call for prompt intervention addressed to improve unhealthy behaviors in these subjects.

Blood pressure response to standing is a strong determinant of masked hypertension in young to middle-age individuals

OBJECTIVE

The pathophysiologic mechanisms of masked hypertension are still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the blood pressure response to standing is a determinant of masked hypertension in young individuals.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied 1078 individuals (mean age 33.2 ± 8.5 years) with stage-1 untreated hypertension at baseline. Orthostatic response was defined as the difference between six SBP measurements in the orthostatic and supine postures. People with a response more than 6.5 mmHg (upper decile) were defined as hyperreactors. After 3 months of follow-up, 24-h ambulatory BP was measured and the participants were classified as normotensives (N = 120), white-coat hypertensive individuals (N = 168), masked hypertensive individuals (N = 166) and sustained hypertensive individuals (N = 624). In 591 participants, 24-h urinary epinephrine was also measured.

RESULTS

Orthostatic response was an independent predictor of masked hypertension after 3 months (P = 0.001). In the whole group, the odds ratio for the Hyperreactors was 2.5 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5-4.0, P < 0.001]. In the participants stratified by orthostatic response and urinary epinephrine, the odds ratio for masked hypertension was 4.2 (95% CI, 1.8-9.9, P = 0.001) in the hyperreactors with epinephrine above the median and was 2.6 (95% CI, 0.9-7.3, P = 0.069) in those with epinephrine below the median. The association between orthostatic response and masked hypertension was confirmed in the cross-sectional analysis after 3 months (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present findings indicate that hyperreactivity to standing is a significant determinant of masked hypertension. The odds ratio for masked hypertension was even quadrupled in people with an orthostatic response more than 6.5 mmHg and high urinary epinephrine suggesting a role of sympathoadrenergic activity in the pathogenesis of masked hypertension.

Natural NS5A inhibitor resistance associated substitutions in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infected patients from Italy

OBJECTIVES

Genetic variability in NS5A is associated with different levels of resistance to the currently licensed NS5A inhibitors. The aim of this study was to detect NS5A inhibitor resistance associated substitutions (RASs) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 (GT1) patients who are naive to direct-acting HCV antivirals.

METHODS

Amplification, Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the HCV NS5A region were performed on plasma obtained from 122 consecutive patients with HCV chronic infection attending four different clinics in Italy.

RESULTS

NS5A inhibitor RASs were detected in 14/61 (23.0%) HCV GT1b and 3/61 (4.9%) HCV GT1a infected patients (p 0.007). The pan-genotypic RAS Y93H was detected in 1 (1.6%) GT1a and 4 (6.6%) GT1b patients. GT1a sequences clustered into two different clades with RASs detected in 1/34 (2.9%) clade I and 2/27 (7.4%) clade II sequences.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the impact of naturally occurring NS5A RASs might be limited with upcoming pan-genotypic treatment regimens, this information is still useful to map naturally occurring HCV variants in different geographic areas in the context of current HCV therapy.