[Changing Concepts About Optimal Target Blood Pressure and the Therapeutic Advantages of Azilsartan for Achieving it].

The article discusses current issues of the treatment of arterial hypertension. According to presented data, so-called therapeutic nihilism is becoming one of the main barriers to achieving target blood pressure (BP). This nihilism is that despite evidence of the effectiveness of achieving lower BP values, practitioners do not intensify antihypertensive therapy sufficiently to achieve such values. The article specially addresses new criteria for the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy, which reflect the therapy sustainability. The most commonly used indicator is the duration of the period, during which systolic BP remains in the therapeutic range. The prognostic significance of such indicators is discussed. In these conditions, it is very important to use the most effective antihypertensive drugs for initial antihypertensive therapy, including as a part of combination therapy. This tactic provides more frequent achievement of BP goals without the need for dose adjustment. In this regard, a systematic review was performed, which included sufficiently large randomized studies of the antihypertensive effectiveness of azilsartan medoxomil. This systematic review will provide comprehensive information on a possible role of using the angiotensin II receptor blocker azilsartan as a basic drug for the treatment of a wide range of patients with high BP. Most of the studies included in the systematic review assessed the effectiveness of combination therapy including azilsartan.

Value of comparative studies of "real clinical practice" in modern cardiology. Position paper based on the expert council discussion dated 12/18/2020.

On December 18, 2020, an expert council was held with the participation of members of the Russian Society of Cardiology, the Eurasian Association of Ther-apists, the National Society for Atherothrombosis, the National Society for Evi-dence-Based Pharmacotherapy, and the Russian Heart Failure Society. The event was devoted to the discussion of the correct use of research data of "real clinical practice" in decision making.

[Clinical Efficacy and Mechanisms of Actions of the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and High Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases].

  The article discusses issues of reducing the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the treatment with modern hypoglycemic drugs, specifically glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.

[Expert consensus regarding treatment of iron deficiency in stable and decompensated patients with heart failure].

In recent years there has been significant interest in treating iron deficiency (ID) in patients with heart failure (HF) due to its high prevalence and detrimental effects in this population. As stated in the 2020 Russain HF guidelines, Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose remains the only proven therapy for ID.This document was prompted by the results from the recent AFFIRM-AHF trial which demonstrates that treatment of ID after acute HF decompensation reduces the risk of future decompensations. Experts have concluded that in HF patients with acute decompensation, a left ventricular ejection fraction of < 50% and ID, Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose reduces future HF hospitalisations. Patients with stable HF may also benefit from treatment of ID to improve quality of life and alleviate symptoms.  It is, therefore, reasonable to screen for and treat ID in patients with HF.

[The use of diuretics in chronic heart failure. Position paper of the Russian Heart Failure Society].

The document focuses on key issues of diuretic therapy in CHF from the standpoint of current views on the pathogenesis of edema syndrome, its diagnosis, and characteristics of using diuretics in various clinical situations.