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Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite the widespread availability of both pharmacological and lifestyle therapeutic options, blood pressure control rates across the globe are worsening. In fact, only 23% of individuals with high blood pressure in the United States achieve treatment goals. In 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration approved renal denervation, a catheter-based procedure that ablates the renal sympathetic nerves, as an adjunctive treatment for patients in whom lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure. This approval followed the publication of multiple randomized clinical studies using rigorous trial designs, all incorporating renal angiogram as the sham control. Most but not all of the new generation of trials reached their primary end point, demonstrating modest efficacy of renal denervation in lowering blood pressure across a spectrum of hypertension, from mild to truly resistant. Individual patient responses vary, and further research is needed to identify those who may benefit most. The initial safety profile appears favorable, and multiple ongoing studies are assessing longer-term efficacy and safety. Multidisciplinary teams that include hypertension specialists and adequately trained proceduralists are crucial to ensure that referrals are made appropriately with full consideration of the potential risks and benefits. Incorporating patient preferences and engaging in shared decision-making conversations will help patients make the best decisions given their individual circumstances. Although further research is clearly needed, renal denervation presents a novel treatment strategy for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and in low- and middle-income countries, and hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for CVD. Although effective evidence-based interventions for control of HTN in high-income countries exist, implementation of these in low- and middle-income countries has been challenging due to limited capacity and infrastructure for late-phase translational research. In Rwanda, the 2015 STEPS NCD (STEPwise Approach to Surveillance of Noncommunicable Diseases) risk survey reported an overall prevalence of HTN of 15% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.8 to 16.3) for those ages 15 to 64 years; prevalence increased with increasing age to 39% (95% CI: 35.7 to 43.1) for those ages 55 to 64 years; CVD was the third most common cause of mortality (7%). Suboptimal infrastructure and capacity in Rwanda hinders research and community knowledge for HTN control. To address the issue of suboptimal capacity to implement evidence-based interventions in HTN, this project was designed with the following objectives: 1) to develop a regional needs assessment of infrastructure for dissemination and implementation (D & I) strategies for HTN-CVD control; 2) to develop HTN-CVD research capacity through creation of countrywide resources such as core research facilities and training in the fields of HTN-CVD, D & I, and biostatistics; and 3) to engage and train multiple stakeholders in D & I and HTN-CVD evidence-based interventions. A weeklong training program in HTN-CVD, biostatistics, and D & I was conducted in Rwanda in August 2018, and pre- and post-D & I training competency questionnaires were administered. Questionnaire results show a statistically significant increase in D & I knowledge and skills as a result of training (full scale pre- to post-test scores: 2.12 ± 0.78 vs. 3.94 ± 0.42; p < 0.0001). Using principles of community engagement and train-the-trainer methods, we will continue to adapt guidelines and treatments for HTN-CVD developed in high-income countries to the context of Rwanda with the goal of establishing a sustainable platform to address the burden of disease from HTN-CVD. • Implementation research in LMIC has been challenging due to limited capacity. • A training program was developed to support implementation research strategies in Rwanda. • Implementation research training resulted in significant increases in knowledge and skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial, which randomized subjects to renal denervation (RDN) or sham control, was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RDN for the treatment of resistant hypertension. Outcomes were previously reported. This retrospective analysis evaluated reasons for screen failure (SF) for randomization in the trial.Methods: SYMPLICITY HTN-3 enrolled subjects with office systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥160 mmHg on stable and maximal doses of ≥3 antihypertensive medication classes. Blood pressure was measured during screening visit (SV) 1 and SV2 a minimum of 2 weeks later to ensure resistant hypertension and to exclude white-coat hypertension. We analyzed baseline characteristics and reasons for SF at each SV and changes in BP between SVs.Results: Among 1,415 patients screened, 880 (62%) did not meet criteria for randomization. Compared with randomized patients, those in the SF cohort were more likely to be older (58.7 vs. 57.4 years, P=.029), current smokers (14.5% vs. 10.7%, P=.041), and prescribed fewer antihypertensive medications (4.7 vs. 5.1, P<.001). The predominant reason for SF at SV2 was office SBP <160 mmHg despite office SBP ≥160 mmHg at SV1.Conclusion: Screening patients with resistant hypertension on maximal doses of ≥3 antihypertensive drugs led to a high SF rate. Screen failures were most common at SV1 and were due to failing the office SBP entry criteria. Not meeting ambulatory SBP criteria at SV2 was a secondary reason for SF, often due to white-coat hypertension; thus, 24-hour ambulatory monitoring is important to validate resistant hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2014 hypertension guideline raised goal systolic blood pressure (SBP) from <140 mm Hg to <150 mm Hg for adults 60 years and older without diabetes mellitus (DM) or chronic kidney disease (CKD). The authors aimed to define the status of hypertension in black adults 60 to 79 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2012 and provide practical guidance. Black patients were more often aware and treated ( P≤.005) for hypertension than whites and had higher rates of DM/CKD ( P<.001), similar control to <140/<90 mm Hg with DM/CKD ( P=.59), and lower control without DM/CKD (<140/<90 mm Hg and <150/<90 mm Hg, P≤.01). Limited awareness (<30%) and infrequent health care (>30% 0-1 health-care visits per year) occurred in untreated black and white hypertensive patients without DM/CKD and BP ≥140/<90 mm Hg. The literature suggests benefits of treated SBP <140 mm Hg in adults 60 to 79 years without DM/CKD. The International Society of Hypertension in Blacks recommends: (1) continuing efforts to achieve BP <140/<90 mm Hg in those with DM/CK, and (2) identifying hypertensive patients without DM/CKD and BP ≥140/<90 mm Hg and treat to an SBP <140 mm Hg in black adults 60-79 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical circulatory support with durable continuous-flow ventricular assist devices has become an important therapeutic management strategy for patients with advanced heart failure. As more patients have received these devices and the duration of support per patient has increased, the postimplantation complications have become more apparent, and the need for approaches to manage these complications has become more compelling. Continuous-flow ventricular assist devices, including axial-flow and centrifugal-flow pumps, are the most commonly used mechanical circulatory support devices. Continuous-flow ventricular assist devices and the native heart have a constant physiological interplay dependent on pump speed that affects pressure-flow relationships and patient hemodynamics. A major postimplantation complication is cerebrovascular vascular accidents. The causes of cerebrovascular vascular accidents in ventricular assist device recipients may be related to hypertension, thromboembolic events, bleeding from anticoagulation, or some combination of these. The most readily identifiable and preventable cause is hypertension. Hypertension management in these patients has been hampered by the fact that it is difficult to accurately measure blood pressure because these ventricular assist devices have continuous flow and are often not pulsatile. Mean arterial pressures have to be identified by Doppler or oscillometric cuff and treated. Although guidelines for hypertension management after ventricular assist device implantation are based largely on expert consensus and conventional wisdom, the mainstay of treatment for hypertension includes guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction because this may reduce adverse effects associated with hypertension and increase the likelihood of favorable ventricular remodeling. The use of systemic anticoagulation in ventricular assist device recipients may at a given blood pressure increase the risk of stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first International Society on Hypertension in Blacks consensus statement on the "Management of High Blood Pressure in African American" in 2003, data from additional clinical trials have become available. We reviewed hypertension and cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment guidelines, pharmacological hypertension clinical end point trials, and blood pressure-lowering trials in blacks. Selected trials without significant black representation were considered. In this update, blacks with hypertension are divided into 2 risk strata, primary prevention, where elevated blood pressure without target organ damage, preclinical cardiovascular disease, or overt cardiovascular disease for whom blood pressure consistently <135/85 mm Hg is recommended, and secondary prevention, where elevated blood pressure with target organ damage, preclinical cardiovascular disease, and/or a history of cardiovascular disease, for whom blood pressure consistently <130/80 mm Hg is recommended. If blood pressure is ≤10 mm Hg above target levels, monotherapy with a diuretic or calcium channel blocker is preferred. When blood pressure is >15/10 mm Hg above target, 2-drug therapy is recommended, with either a calcium channel blocker plus a renin-angiotensin system blocker or, alternatively, in edematous and/or volume-overload states, with a thiazide diuretic plus a renin-angiotensin system blocker. Effective multidrug therapeutic combinations through 4 drugs are described. Comprehensive lifestyle modifications should be initiated in blacks when blood pressure is ≥115/75 mm Hg. The updated International Society on Hypertension in Blacks consensus statement on hypertension management in blacks lowers the minimum target blood pressure level for the lowest-risk blacks, emphasizes effective multidrug regimens, and de-emphasizes monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subclinical markers of atherosclerosis, including CAC, are less favorable in adults with IGT. In previous adult studies, higher PA has been associated with lower CAC with findings varying by age and sex. PA and CAC were examined by age and sex in the diverse Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) cohort with IGT who were randomized at baseline to lifestyle intervention, metformin, or placebo groups for a mean of 3.2 years, and subsequently observed in DPPOS for follow-up. PA was measured via questionnaire (annually); accelerometry once at 11-13yrs and CAC Agatston score (AS) using chest computed tomography at 13-15 yrs from randomization. The relationship between PA and CAC was examined using Tobit regression models in 1434 participants with valid PA and CAC data (mean age 63±9.5 yrs; 70% female; 54% with diabetes) adjusted for treatment group, age, sex, race/ethnicity, lipid medication use, diabetes status, and cumulative metformin exposure; pairwise and three-way interactions were examined. Accelerometry-assessed median (IQR) daily step counts and moderate+ PA (MVPA) minutes were 5302 (3576, 7104) and 21 (9, 41), respectively. Median (IQR) AS was 9 (0, 151). In fully adjusted models, each 1000 steps /day was associated with lower CAC (p=0.024). Results were examined by sex and age subgroups (<65 and ≥65 yrs) with significant inverse associations found in women (<65 and ≥65 yrs; both p<0.001) but not in men (<65 and ≥65 yrs; both p>0.05). Similarly, significant inverse associations between MVPA minutes and CAC AS were found in women (<65 yrs p=0.003; ≥65 yrs p=0.012) but not in men (<65 yrs p=0.91 and ≥65 yrs p=0.056). Questionnaire-measured PA and CAC associations showed similar trends. In contrast, minutes of sedentary and light PA were not significantly associated with CAC. Suggested sex differences in the PA-CAC association in adults with initial glucose intolerance was found and should be investigated in other studies. Disclosure: B. Rockette-wagner: None. E. Horton: None. M. A. Hoskin: None. U. N. Ibebuogu: None. M. Schlögl: None. R. B. Goldberg: None. D. Research group: None. A. Kriska: None. N. Younes: None. S. Edelstein: None. T. J. Orchard: None. M. Armstrong: None. A. L. Brown: Research Support; Self; Medtronic, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. D. Dabelea: None. K. M. Gadde: Other Relationship; Self; AstraZeneca, Research Support; Self; BioKier, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Funding: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U01DK048489) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The pre-endoscopic Rockall Score (RS) and the Glasgow-Blatchford Scores (GBS) can help risk stratify patients with upper gastrointestinal bleed who are seen in the Emergency Department (ED). The RS and GBS have yet to be validated in a United States patient population for their ability to discriminate which ED patients with upper gastrointestinal bleed do not need endoscopic hemostasis. Objective: We sought to determine whether patients who received a score of zero on either score (the lowest risk) in the ED still required upper endoscopic hemostasis during hospitalization. Methods: Retrospective electronic medical record chart review was performed during a 3-year period (2007–2009) to identify patients with suspected upper gastrointestinal bleed by ED final diagnosis of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and related terms at a single urban academic ED. The RS and GBS were calculated from ED chart abstraction and the hospital records of admitted patients were queried for subsequent endoscopic hemostasis. Results: Six hundred and ninety patients with gastrointestinal bleed were identified and 86% were admitted to the hospital. One hundred and twenty-two patients had an RS equal to zero; 67 (55%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 46–63%) of these patients were admitted to the hospital and 11 (16%; 95% CI 9–27%) received endoscopic hemostasis. Sixty-three patients had a GBS equal to zero; 15 (24%; 95% CI 15–36%) were admitted to the hospital and 2 (13%; 95% CI 4–38%) received endoscopic hemostasis. Conclusions: Some patients who were identified as lowest risk by the GBS or RS still received endoscopic hemostasis during hospital admission. These clinical decision rules may be insufficiently sensitive to predict which patients do not require endoscopic hemostasis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Importance: Hypertension is the largest contributor to the Global Burden of Disease. In Rwanda, as in most low-income and middle-income countries, an increasing prevalence of hypertension and its associated morbidity and mortality is causing major healthcare and economic impact. Understanding healthcare systems context in hypertension care is necessary., Objective: To study the hypertension healthcare context as perceived by healthcare providers using the Context Assessment for Community Health (COACH) tool., Design: A cross-sectional cohort responded to the COACH questionnaire and a survey about hypertension training., Setting: Three tertiary care hospitals in Rwanda., Participants: Healthcare professionals (n=223)., Primary Outcomes and Measures: The COACH tool consists of 49 items with eight subscales: resources, community engagement, commitment to work, informal payment, leadership, work culture, monitoring services for action (5-point Likert Scale) and sources of knowledge (on a 0-1 scale). Four questions surveyed training on hypertension., Results: Responders (n=223, 75% women; 56% aged 20-35 years) included nurses (n=142, 64%, midwives (n=42, 19%), primary care physicians (n=28, 13%) and physician specialists (n=11, 5%)). The subscales commitment to work, leadership, work culture and informal payment scored between 4.7 and 4.1 and the community engagement, monitoring services for action and organizational resources scored between 3.1 and 3.5. Sources of knowledge had a mean score of 0.6±0.3. While 73% reported having attended a didactic hypertension seminar in the past year, only 28% had received long-term training and 51% had <3-year experience working with hypertension care delivery. The majority (99%) indicated a need for additional training in hypertension care., Conclusions: There is a need for increased and continuous training in Rwanda. Healthcare responders stated a commitment to work and reported supportive leadership, while acknowledging limited resources and no monitoring systems. The COACH tool provides contextual guidance to develop training strategies prior to the implementation of a sustainable hypertension care programme., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aim: To characterize the extent to which metabolic syndrome criteria predict left ventricular (LV) structure and function., Methods and Results: Metabolic syndrome criteria were assessed in 607 adults with normal LV function. The cohort was grouped according to the number of criteria satisfied: (1) Absent (0 criteria, n = 110); (2) Pre-Metabolic Syndrome (1-2 criteria, n = 311); and (3) Metabolic Syndrome (>or=3 criteria, n = 186). Echocardiography was used to assess LV structure (LV mass) and systolic (LVEF, Vs) and diastolic function, by pulse-wave Doppler (E/A ratio) and tissue Doppler imaging (Ve). LV volumes and LVEF were similar between groups. However, LV mass increased significantly and progressively (LVM/Ht(2.7), in g/m(2.7): 34.9 +/- 6.7, 41.0 +/- 9.5, 46.3 +/- 11.0, P < 0.001); LV relaxation decreased progressively (Ve(global'), in cm/s: 13.5 +/- 2.8, 12.1 +/- 3.0, 10.5 +/- 2.2, P < 0.001) from Absent to Pre-Metabolic Syndrome to Metabolic Syndrome groups, respectively. Multiple variable analyses showed that diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels were independent predictors of Ve after adjustment for LV mass., Conclusion: Patients with metabolic syndrome have LV diastolic dysfunction independent of LV mass. These functional abnormalities may partially explain the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with metabolic syndrome.