Efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil‑amlodipine besylate tablets (Sevikar®) in older patients with essential hypertension: Subgroup analysis from the Sevikar study

Essential hypertension is a notable threat for the older (age, ≥65 years) population. However, to the best of our knowledge, a real-world study assessing olmesartan medoxomil-amlodipine besylate (OM-AML) tablets in older Chinese patients with essential hypertension has not been performed. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OM-AML tablets in these patients. A total of 463 older Chinese patients with essential hypertension treated with OM-AML (20/5 mg) tablets (Sevikar®) were analyzed in a prospective, single-arm, multi-center, real-world study. Seated systolic blood pressure (SeSBP) and seated diastolic blood pressure (SeDBP) at baseline, and at week (W)4 and W8 after OM-AML tablet administration were measured. The mean ± standard error change of SeSBP/SeDBP was -10.3±0.8/-4.6±0.5 and -12.5±0.8/-5.6±0.5 mmHg at W4 and W8, respectively. At W4, 74.1 and 26.8% of patients achieved BP target according to the China and American Heart Association (AHA) criteria, while at W8, 78.0 and 38.7% of patients reached these BP targets accordingly. Finally, 76.5 and 80.5% of patients achieved BP response at W4 and W8, respectively. Furthermore, home-measured SeSBP and SeDBP were significantly decreased from W1 to W8 (both P<0.001). Additionally, the satisfaction of both patients and physicians was elevated at W8 compared with at W0 (both P<0.001). The medication possession rate from baseline to W4 and W8 was 95.5 and 92.5%. The most common drug-associated adverse events by system organ classes were nervous system disorder (4.5%), vascular disorder (2.8%), and general disorder and administration site conditions (2.6%), which were generally mild. In conclusion, OM-AML tablets may be considered effective and safe in lowering BP, enabling the achievement of guideline-recommended BP targets in older Chinese patients with essential hypertension.

Efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil-amlodipine besylate tablet in Chinese patients with essential hypertension: A prospective, single-arm, multi-center, real-world study

There lacks real-world study with a large sample size assessing olmesartan medoxomil-amlodipine besylate (OM-AML) tablet. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OM-AML tablet in patients with essential hypertension. Totally, 1341 patients from 36 medical centers with essential hypertension who took OM-AML (20/5 mg) tablet were analyzed in the current prospective, single-arm, multi-center, real-world study (SVK study). Seated systolic blood pressure (SeSBP) and seated diastolic blood pressure (SeDBP) at baseline, week (W)4 and W8 were measured. The mean (±SE) change of SeSBP/SeDBP was -10.8 ± 0.4/-6.6 ± 0.3 mmHg at W4 and -12.7 ± 0.5/-7.6 ± 0.3 mmHg at W8, respectively. At W4, 78.8% and 29.0% patients achieved BP target by China and American Heart Association (AHA) criteria; at W8, 84.7% and 36.5% patients reached blood pressure (BP) target by China and AHA criteria, accordingly. Meanwhile, 80.2% and 86.4% patients achieved BP response at W4 and W8, respectively. Home-measured SeSBP and SeDBP decreased from W1 to W8 (both p < .001). Besides, patients' and physicians' satisfaction were elevated at W8 compared with W0 (both p < .001). The medication possession rate was 94.8% from baseline to W4 and 91.3% from baseline to W8. The most common drug-related adverse events were nervous system disorders (4.6%), vascular disorders (2.6%), and general disorders and administration site conditions (2.3%) by system organ class, which were generally mild and manageable. In conclusion, OM-AML tablet is one of the best antihypertensive agents in patients with essential hypertension.

Effect of antihypertensive treatment in isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) - systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) in middle-aged and elderly is associated with high cardiovascular risk, but no randomised controlled trial has assessed the effect of antihypertensive treatment in ISH using today's definition, i.e. systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <90 mmHg.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials was performed. Studies with ≥1000 patient-years of follow-up, comparing more intensive versus less intensive BP targets, or active drug versus placebo, were included if the mean baseline SBP was ≥140 mmHg and the mean baseline DBP was <90 mmHg. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Relative risks from each trial were pooled in random-effects meta-analyses, stratified by baseline and attained SBP level.

RESULTS

Twenty-four trials, including 113,105 participants (mean age 67 years; mean blood pressure 149/83 mmHg) were included in the analysis. Overall, treatment reduced the risk of MACE by 9% (relative risk 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.88-0.93). Treatment was more effective if baseline SBP was ≥160 mmHg (RR 0.77, 95% CIs 0.70-0.86) compared to 140-159 mmHg (RR 0.92, 95% CIs 0.89-0.95; p = 0.002 for interaction), but provided equal additional benefit across all attained SBP levels (RR 0.80, 95% CIs 0.70-0.92 for <130 mmHg, RR 0.92, 95% CIs 0.89-0.96 for 130-139 mmHg, and RR 0.87, 95% CIs 0.82-0.93 for ≥140 mmHg; p = 0.070 for interaction).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support antihypertensive treatment of isolated systolic hypertension, regardless of baseline SBP, to target SBP <140 mmHg and even <130 mmHg if well tolerated.

Magnitude of Systolic Blood Pressure Reduction and Early Achieved Blood Pressure and Clinical Outcomes After Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background We aimed to evaluate the relationships between the magnitude of systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction and achieved SBP in the acute phase of ischemic stroke onset and subsequent clinical outcomes. Methods and Results This study was a secondary analysis of CATIS (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke), a multicenter randomized controlled trial of 4071 patients with acute ischemic stroke. SBP reduction was defined as the proportional SBP changes from baseline to 24 hours after randomization, and achieved SBP was the mean of SBP measurements at day 7. The study outcomes included functional outcome of death or major disability (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3), death, and cardiovascular events at 3 months after recruitment. Compared with the reference group of increase or no change in SBP within the first 24 hours, the odds ratios (95% CIs) of functional outcome of death or major disability were 0.62 (0.47-0.83) and 0.61 (0.42-0.87) for the reduction of 11% to 20% and >20%, respectively. Compared with participants in highest achieved SBP group (≥160 mm Hg) at day 7, odds ratios or hazard ratios of lower achieved SBP (<130 mm Hg) were 0.54 (95% CI, 0.37-0.80) for functional outcome, and 0.36 (95% CI, 0.17-0.80) for death or cardiovascular events. Conclusions A moderate magnitude of SBP reduction and a lower early achieved SBP were associated with a decreased risk of poor functional outcome, death, and cardiovascular events after acute ischemic stroke. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings. REGISTRATION: URL: ClinicalTrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01840072.

Middle-Aged and Older Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: Higher Mortality With Drug Treated Systolic Blood Pressure Below 130 mm Hg

BACKGROUND

Approximately 40% of people with hypertension have left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) detected by ECG or echocardiography. Because patients with LVH have poor myocardial microcirculation, they may be too sensitive to lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) too much due to a lack of myocardial perfusion pressure. We aimed to investigate whether the average achieved SBP <130 mm Hg may cause harm in patients with LVH in the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-Term Use Evaluation trial (VALUE).

METHODS

Of the 15 245 VALUE participants, we identified 13 803 patients without cardiovascular events during the first 6 months after randomization. Of these, 2458 patients had electrocardiographic LVH (ECG-LVH). Cox analyses adjusted for age, gender, and baseline variables compared cardiac and all-cause mortality and other prespecified end points for patients who achieved average SBP 130 to 139 mm Hg (No-LVH group n=4863; ECG-LVH group n=929) and <130 mm Hg (No-LVH group n=2107; ECG-LVH group n=305). Reference groups were patients who achieved average SBP ≥140 mm Hg following the first excluded 6 months (No-LVH group n=4375; ECG-LVH group n=1224).

RESULTS

The No-LVH group achieving average SBP <130 mm Hg had a significantly lower incidence of several cardiovascular end points. The ECG-LVH group achieving average SBP <130 mm Hg had higher cardiac mortality (hazard ratio, 1.98 [95% CIs, 1.06-3.70]; P=0.032) and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.74 [95% CIs, 1.17-2.60]; P=0.007), and SBP <130 mm Hg was not associated with a reduction in any end point.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings may be seen as a signal that caution is warranted when treating middle-aged and older patients with electrocardiographic or echocardiographic LVH to SBP <130 mm Hg.

Optimal or standard control of systolic and diastolic blood pressure across risk factor categories in patients with chronic coronary syndromes

AIMS

Guidelines have lowered blood pressure (BP) targets to <130/80 mmHg. We examined the benefit of intensive control for each BP component, versus the burden of other modifiable risk factors, in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The CLARIFY registry (ISRCTN43070564) enrolled 32 703 CCS patients, from 2009-2010, with a 5-year follow-up. Patients with either BP component below European guideline safety boundaries (120/70 mmHg) were excluded, leaving 19 167 patients (mean age 63.8 ± 10.1 years, 78% men) in the present analysis. A multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model showed a gradual increase in cardiovascular risk (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) when the number of uncontrolled risk factors (active smoking, no physical activity, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥100 mg/dL, and diabetes with glycated haemoglobin ≥7%) increased [adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-1.52, 1.65 (1.40-1.94), and 2.47 (1.90-3.21) for 1, 2, and 3 or 4 uncontrolled risk factors, respectively, versus 0], without significant interaction with BP. Although uncontrolled systolic (≥140 mmHg) and diastolic (≥90 mmHg) BP were both associated with higher risk than standard BP, standard BP was associated with higher risk than optimal control for only the diastolic component (adjusted HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.94-1.25 for systolic BP 130-139 versus 120-129 mmHg and 1.43; 95% CI: 1.27-1.62 for diastolic BP 80-89 versus 70-79 mmHg).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that optimal BP target in CCS may be ≤139/79 mmHg, and that optimizing the burden of other risk factors should be prioritized over further reduction of systolic BP.

Preoperative blood pressure targets and effect on hemodynamics in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are treated with α-adrenoceptor antagonists to improve peroperative hemodynamics. However, preoperative blood pressure targets differ between institutions. We retrospectively compared per- and postoperative hemodynamics in 30 patients with PPGL that were pretreated with phenoxybenzamine aiming at different blood pressure targets at two separate endocrine departments. All patients were subsequently undergoing laparoscopic surgery at Department of Urology, Herlev University hospital. Fourteen patients were treated targeting to symptomatic and significant orthostatic hypotension and 16 patients to a seated blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg. As a control group, we included 34 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for other reasons. The group titrated to orthostatic hypotension required a higher dose of phenoxybenzamine to achieve the blood pressure target. This group had less intraoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure fluctuation (Mann-Whitney U test; P < 0.05) and less periods with heart rate above 100 b.p.m. (Mann-Whitney U test; P = 0.04) as compared to the group with a preoperative blood pressure target below 130/80 mmHg. Peroperative use of intravenous fluids were similar between the two groups, but postoperatively more intravenous fluids were administered in the group with a target of ortostatism. Overall, the control group was more hemodynamic stable as compared to either group treated for PPGL. We conclude that phenoxybenzamine pretreatment targeting ortostatic hypotension may improve peroperative hemodynamic stability but causes a higher postoperative requirement for intravenous fluids. Overall, PPGL surgery is related to greater hemodynamic instability compared to adrenalectomy for other reasons.

Cardiovascular Implications of the 2021 KDIGO Blood Pressure Guideline for Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

The 2021 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline recommends a systolic blood pressure (BP) target of <120 mm Hg for nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD).

OBJECTIVES

We sought to examine the potential implications of the 2021 KDIGO BP target, compared with the 2012 KDIGO and 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) BP targets, as related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes.

METHODS

From the cross-sectional Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and longitudinal National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data, adults with nondialysis CKD were identified and categorized into 4 groups based on concordance/discordance between guidelines: 1) above both targets; 2) above 2021 KDIGO only; 3) above 2012 KDIGO or 2017 ACC/AHA only; and 4) controlled within both targets. We determined the nationally representative proportion and CVD risk of each group.

RESULTS

In KNHANES (n = 1,939), 50.2% had BP above both 2021 and 2012 KDIGO targets, 15.9% above the 2021 KDIGO target only, 3.5% above the 2012 KDIGO target only, and 30.4% controlled within both targets. In NHIS (n = 412,167; median follow-up: 10.0 years), multivariable-adjusted HRs for CVD events were 1.52 (95% CI: 1.47-1.58) among participants with BP above both targets, 1.28 (95% CI: 1.24-1.32) among those with BP above 2021 KDIGO only, and 1.07 (95% CI: 0.61-1.89) among those with BP above 2012 KDIGO only, compared to those with BP controlled within both targets. Results were similar for comparison between 2021 KDIGO and 2017 ACC/AHA BP targets.

CONCLUSIONS

New candidates for BP-lowering treatment per the 2021 KDIGO guideline account for a substantial proportion of the total CKD population and bear significantly high CVD risk.

Choice of Whole Blood versus Lactated Ringer's Resuscitation Modifies the Relationship between Blood Pressure Target and Functional Outcome after Traumatic Brain Injury plus Hemorrhagic Shock in Mice

Civilian traumatic brain injury (TBI) guidelines recommend resuscitation of patients with hypotensive TBI with crystalloids. Increasing evidence, however, suggests that whole blood (WB) resuscitation may improve physiological and survival outcomes at lower resuscitation volumes, and potentially at a lower mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), than crystalloid after TBI and hemorrhagic shock (HS). The objective of this study was to assess whether WB resuscitation with two different MAP targets improved behavioral and histological outcomes compared with lactated Ringer's (LR) in a mouse model of TBI+HS. Anesthetized mice (n = 40) underwent controlled cortical impact (CCI) followed by HS (MAP = 25-27 mm Hg; 25 min) and were randomized to five groups for a 90 min resuscitation: LR with MAP target of 70 mm Hg (LR70), LR60, WB70, WB60, and monitored sham. Mice received a 20 mL/kg bolus of LR or autologous WB followed by LR boluses (10 mL/kg) every 5 min for MAP below target. Shed blood was reinfused after 90 min. Morris Water Maze testing was performed on days 14-20 post-injury. Mice were euthanized (21 d) to assess contusion and total brain volumes. Latency to find the hidden platform was greater versus sham for LR60 (p < 0.002) and WB70 (p < 0.007) but not LR70 or WB60. The WB resuscitation did not reduce contusion volume or brain tissue loss. The WB targeting a MAP of 60 mm Hg did not compromise function versus a 70 mm Hg target after CCI+HS, but further reduced fluid requirements (p < 0.03). Using LR, higher achieved MAP was associated with better behavioral performance (rho = -0.67, p = 0.028). Use of WB may allow lower MAP targets without compromising functional outcome, which could facilitate pre-hospital TBI resuscitation.

Effects of Different Systolic Blood Pressure Targets on Myocardial Function: A One-Year Follow-Up in Geriatric Hypertension

Background

A lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) target reduces major cardiovascular events and mortality from any cause of geriatric hypertension. However, the effect of different SBP targets on myocardial function remains unclear. This study aimed to determine changes in left ventricular (LV) strain in older hypertensive patients after 1 year of different SBP goals, and to evaluate its effects on myocardial mechanics in this population.

Methods

We studied 313 hypertensive adults aged 60 years or older after 1 year of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial. They were divided into the intensive group (target SBP: 110–130 mmHg) and the standard group (target SBP: 130–150 mmHg). All participants underwent echocardiography within 1 week after enrollment and 1 year after participating in the study. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the LV (endocardial, middle, and epicardial layer: GLS-end, GLS-mid, and GLS-epi, respectively) and the improvement of GLS at 1 year (ΔGLS-end, ΔGLS-mid, and ΔGLS-epi) were measured.

Results

At 1 year, GLS-end in the intensive group was slightly improved compared with that before the trial (−23.78%±3.10% vs −22.58%±3.11%, P<0.05). The ΔGLS-end and ΔGLS-mid in the intensive group were higher than those in the standard group (1.20±0.23 vs 0.58±0.59% and 0.70±0.21 vs 0.52±0.17, P<0.05). Moreover, SBP at 1 year and an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist were independent factors that affected ΔGLS-end (β= −0.005, P=0.004; β= 0.080, P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

These trial results suggest that a lower SBP target can slightly improve myocardial function in older hypertensive patients at 1 year.

Cardiovascular outcomes at recommended blood pressure targets in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to all middle-aged and elderly hypertensive study patients with high cardiovascular risk

PURPOSE

Event-based clinical outcome trials have shown limited evidence to support guidelines recommendations to lower blood pressure (BP) to <130/80 mmHg in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus or with general high cardiovascular (CV) risk. We addressed this issue by post-hoc analysing the risk of CV events in patients who participated in the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) trial and compared the hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with all high-risk hypertensive patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the proportion of on-treatment visits before the occurrence of an event (<25% to ≥75%) in which BP was reduced to <140/90 or <130/80 mmHg. Patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 5250) were compared with the entire VALUE population with high CV risk (n = 15,245).

RESULTS

After adjustments for baseline differences between groups, a reduction in the proportion of visits in which BP was reduced to <140/90 mmHg, but not to <130/80 mmHg, was accompanied by a progressive increase in the risk of CV morbidity and mortality as well as stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure in both diabetes mellitus and in all high-risk patients. Target BP <130/80 mmHg reduced stroke risk in the main population but not in the diabetes mellitus patients. Patients with diabetes mellitus had higher event rates for the primary cardiac endpoint and all-cause mortality driven by a higher rate of heart failure.

CONCLUSION

In the high-risk hypertensive patients of the VALUE trial achieving more frequently BP <140/90 mmHg, but not <130/80 mmHg, showed principally the same protective effect on overall and cause-specific cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus and in the general high-risk hypertensive population.

Cardiovascular outcomes at recommended blood pressure targets in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension

PURPOSE

Available data of event-based clinical outcomes trials show that little evidence supports the guidelines recommendations to lower blood pressure (BP) to <130/80 mmHg in middle-aged and elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. We addressed this issue by post-hoc analysing the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in mostly elderly high-risk hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus participating in the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) trial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients (n = 5250) were divided into 4 groups according to the proportion of on-treatment visits before the occurrence of an event (<25% to ≥ 75%) in which BP was reduced to <140/90 or <130/80 mmHg.

RESULTS

After adjustment for baseline demographic differences between groups, a reduction in the proportion of visits in which BP achieved <140/90 mmHg accompanied a progressive increase in the risk of CV mortality and morbidity as well as of cause-specific events such as stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure. A progressive reduction in the proportion of visits in which BP was reduced <130/80 mmHg did not have any effect on CV risks.

CONCLUSION

In mostly elderly high-risk hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus participating in the VALUE trial, achieving more frequently BP <140/90 mmHg showed a marked protective effect on overall and all cause-specific cardiovascular outcomes. This was not the case for a more frequent achievement of the more intensive BP target, i.e. <130/80 mmHg.

Blood pressure after follow-up in a stroke prevention clinic

OBJECTIVES

In Denmark, 25% of hospital admissions with stroke are recurrent strokes. With thrombolytic treatment, more patients survive with only minor disability. This promising development should be followed up by intensive secondary prevention. Hypertension is the most important target. We aimed at testing the hypotheses that early follow-up in a preventive clinic would result in (a) a higher proportion of patients with blood pressure at target and (b) time to stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, and death would be longer in the intervention group compared to controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eligible patients admitted to the stroke unit of Herlev Hospital were randomized shortly before discharge to intervention or control group. Of 78 included participants, data from 73 were available for follow-up 9 months after inclusion. Patients in the intervention group were seen in the clinic within 1 week. In case of hypertension, treatment was initiated or supplied with a new drug. We used individual targets for blood pressure according to diagnosis of stroke and patients' comorbidity. Patients in the intervention group had a median of five visits to the preventive clinic.

RESULTS

In the intervention group, blood pressure was treated to target in 25 patients (69%) versus 14 (38%) in the control group (p = .007). Median time to first event was 44 months (4-49) in the intervention group and 19 months (4-37) in controls (p = .316).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of hypertension to individual targets after stroke is feasible. It may postpone recurrent stroke and death in stroke survivors.

Antihypertensive Treatment in Diabetic Kidney Disease: The Need for a Patient-Centered Approach

Diabetic kidney disease affects up to forty percent of patients with diabetes during their lifespan. Prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease is currently based on optimal glucose and blood pressure control. Renin–angiotensin aldosterone inhibitors are considered the mainstay treatment for hypertension in diabetic patients, especially in the presence of albuminuria. Whether strict blood pressure reduction entails a favorable renal outcome also in non-albuminuric patients is at present unclear. Results of several clinical trials suggest that an overly aggressive blood pressure reduction, especially in the context of profound pharmacologic inhibition of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system may result in a paradoxical worsening of renal function. On the basis of this evidence, it is proposed that blood pressure reduction should be tailored in each individual patient according to renal phenotype.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of different systolic blood pressure targets for people with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack: Economic analysis of the PAST-BP study

BACKGROUND

The PAST-BP trial found that using a lower systolic blood pressure target (<130 mmHg or lower versus <140 mmHg) in a primary care population with prevalent cerebrovascular disease was associated with a small additional reduction in blood pressure (2.9 mmHg).

OBJECTIVES

To determine the cost effectiveness of an intensive systolic blood pressure target (<130 mmHg or lower) compared with a standard target (<140 mmHg) in people with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack on general practice stroke/transient ischaemic attack registers in England.

METHODS

A Markov model with a one-year time cycle and a 30-year time horizon was used to estimate the cost per quality-adjusted life year of an intensive target versus a standard target. Individual patient level data were used from the PAST-BP trial with regard to change in blood pressure and numbers of primary care consultations over a 12-month period. Published sources were used to estimate life expectancy and risks of cardiovascular events and their associated costs and utilities.

RESULTS

In the base-case results, aiming for an intensive blood pressure target was dominant, with the incremental lifetime costs being £169 lower per patient than for the standard blood pressure target with a 0.08 quality-adjusted life year gain. This was robust to sensitivity analyses, unless intensive blood pressure lowering reduced quality of life by 2% or more.

CONCLUSION

Aiming for a systolic blood pressure target of <130 mmHg or lower is cost effective in people who have had a stroke/transient ischaemic attack in the community, but it is difficult to separate out the impact of the lower target from the impact of more active management of blood pressure.

Slowing progression of chronic kidney disease

Early identification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) provides an opportunity to implement therapies to improve kidney function and slow progression. The goal of this article is to review established and developing clinical therapies directed at slowing progression. The importance of controlling blood pressure will be discussed along with the target blood pressure that should be achieved in CKD patients. Therapy directed at inhibiting the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system remains the mainstay of treatment with single-agent inhibition of this system being as good as dual blockade with fewer adverse effects. Other therapies that may be used include correction of metabolic acidosis, dietary protein restriction, and new models for delivering care to patients with CKD. Emerging therapies targeting endothelin, uric acid, kidney fibrosis, and oxidant stress hold promise for the future.

What is an appropriate blood pressure goal for the elderly: review of recent studies and practical recommendations

Hypertension is common in the elderly, and isolated systolic hypertension is responsible for the majority of hypertension in this population. Hypertension in the elderly can be attributed to numerous structural and functional changes to the vasculature that develop with advancing age. Increased systolic blood pressure is associated with adverse outcomes, including stroke, cardiovascular disease, and death. Some studies demonstrate an inverse relationship between cardiovascular outcomes and diastolic blood pressure whereas other studies show a J-shaped or U-shaped association between blood pressure and outcomes. The complex J-shaped association coupled with the unique characteristics of elderly patients have led to much debate and confusion regarding the treatment of hypertension in this population. Clinical trials indicate a benefit to therapy in older adults, and there appears to be no age threshold above which antihypertensive therapy should be withheld. Treatment of hypertension in elderly patients is further complicated by increased susceptibility to brain hypoperfusion with orthostatic hypotension as well as the risk of drug–drug interactions. We recommend a systolic blood pressure goal of <140 mmHg in patients less than 80 years of age and a systolic blood pressure goal of 140–150 mmHg in patients 80 years of age or older. Reduction of blood pressure is probably more important than the specific agent used and initiation of drug therapy with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, calcium channel blocker, or diuretic are all reasonable options, and the decision should be individualized based on underlying comorbidities.

[Advantages of ramipril/amlodipin fixed combination therapy. When should we use it?]

Hypertension is one of the most frequent chronic disease in Hungary and one of the most important cardiovascular risk factor. Treatment of blood pressure to target value lowers significantly the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke and chronic renal disease as well as it decreases mortality. Blood pressure control has a great importance in high risk patients. In addition to life style changes, drug treatment plays an essential role in the management of hypertensive patients. The complexity of drug regimen, characteristics of drug class, age and gender are all exert impacts on patient adherence. Antihypertensive drugs should preferably have metabolically neutral properties and cardiovascular protective effects. Ramipril/amlodipine fixed combination meets these criteria and adherence of patients is favorable.

Fixed combination of irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide in the management of hypertension

Approximately 25% of the adult population worldwide is hypertensive and thus at risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of many antihypertensive drugs, at least 50% of patients do not achieve blood pressure (BP) targets and thus remain at increased cardiovascular risk. Fixed-dose (FD) irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is an antihypertensive combination therapy approved for the treatment of patients whose BP is not adequately controlled on monotherapy and for initial treatment of patients likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their BP goal. The efficacy and tolerability of FD irbesartan/HCTZ has been demonstrated in both patient populations in large multicenter studies. In patients failing antihypertensive monotherapy, FD irbesartan/HCTZ (150/12.5 mg) has been shown to be more effective than FD valsartan/HCTZ (80/12.5 mg) and at least comparable to FD losartan/HCTZ (50/12.5 mg). In patients with moderate or severe hypertension receiving FD irbesartan/HCTZ as initial therapy, this combination achieved more rapid BP reductions compared with irbesartan monotherapy and enabled a greater proportion of patients with severe hypertension to achieve their BP target. FD irbesartan/HCTZ is thus a valuable addition to the clinician’s armamentarium for the management of hypertension and should help more patients achieve their BP target.