Prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension in Greece before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: May Measurement Month survey 2019-2022.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on several cardiovascular risk factors. This study investigated the prevalence, awareness and treatment of hypertension in Greece before and after the pandemic. Data were collected in the context of the May Measurement Month (MMM) global survey initiated by the International Society of Hypertension. METHODS: Adult volunteers (age ≥ 18 years) were recruited through opportunistic screening in public areas across cities in Greece in 2019 and 2022. Medical history and triplicate sitting blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken using validated automated upper-arm cuff devices. The data were uploaded to the international MMM cloud platform. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic ≥90 mm Hg and/or self-reported use of drugs for hypertension. The same threshold was used to define uncontrolled BP in treated individuals. RESULTS: Data from 12,080 adults were collected (5,727/6,353 in MMM 2019/2022; men 46/49%, p < 0.01; mean age 52.7 ± 16.6/54.8 ± 16.2, p < 0.001; smokers, 24.7/30.5, p < 0.001; diabetics 12/11.5%, p = NS; cardiovascular disease 5/5.8%, p = NS). The prevalence of hypertension was 41.6/42.6% (MMM 2019/2022, p = NS), with 21.3/27.5% of individuals with hypertension being unaware of their condition (p < 0.001), 5.6/2.4% aware untreated (p < 0.001), 24.8/22.1% treated uncontrolled (p < 0.05), and 48.3/47.8% treated controlled (p = NS). CONCLUSION: In Greece, the COVID-19 pandemic did not appear to affect the prevalence and control of hypertension; however, the rate of undiagnosed hypertension was higher after the pandemic. National strategies need to be implemented for the early detection and optimal management of hypertension in the general population in Greece.

Stroke Incidence in Patients With Hypertension According to Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and physical inactivity are risk factors for stroke. The effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on stroke risk in patients with hypertension has not been assessed. We evaluated stroke incidence in patients with hypertension according to CRF and changes in CRF. METHODS: We included 483 379 patients with hypertension (mean age±SD; 59.4±9.0 years) and no evidence of unstable cardiovascular disease as indicated by a standardized exercise treadmill test. Patients were assigned to 5 age- and sex-specific CRF categories based on peak metabolic equivalents achieved at the initial exercise treadmill test and in 4 categories based on metabolic equivalent changes over time (n=110 576). Multivariable Cox models, adjusted for age, and comorbidities were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% CIs for stroke risk. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 10.6 (interquartile range, 6.6-14.6) years, 15 925 patients developed stroke with an average yearly rate of 3.1 events/1000 person-years. Stroke risk declined progressively with higher CRF and was 55% lower for the High-fit individuals (hazard ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.42-0.48]) compared with the Least-fit. Similar associations were observed across the race, sex, and age spectra. Poor CRF was the strongest predictor of stroke risk of all comorbidities studied (hazard ratio, 2.24 [95% CI, 2.10-2.40]). Changes in CRF reflected inverse and proportional changes in stroke risk. CONCLUSIONS: Poor CRF carried a greater risk than any of the cardiac risk factors in patients with hypertension, regardless of age, race, or sex. The lower stroke risk associated with improved CRF suggests that increasing physical activity, even later in life, may reduce stroke risk.

Management of patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease referred to Hypertension Excellence Centres among 27 countries. On behalf of the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Hypertension and the Kidney.

Objective Real-life management of patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centres (ESH-ECs) is unclear : we aimed to investigate it. Methods A survey was conducted in 2023. The questionnaire contained 64 questions asking ESH-ECs representatives to estimate how patients with CKD are managed. Results Overall, 88 ESH-ECS representatives from 27 countries participated. According to the responders, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, calcium-channel blockers and thiazides were often added when these medications were lacking in CKD patients, but physicians were more prone to initiate RAS blockers (90% [interquartile range: 70-95%]) than MRA (20% [10-30%]), SGLT2i (30% [20-50%]) or (GLP1-RA (10% [5-15%]). Despite treatment optimisation, 30% of responders indicated that hypertension remained uncontrolled (30% (15-40%) vs 18% [10%-25%]) in CKD and CKD patients, respectively). Hyperkalemia was the most frequent barrier to initiate RAS blockers, and dosage reduction was considered in 45% of responders when kalaemia was 5.5-5.9 mmol/L. Conclusions RAS blockers are initiated in most ESH-ECS in CKD patients, but MRA and SGLT2i initiations are less frequent. Hyperkalemia was the main barrier for initiation or adequate dosing of RAS blockade, and RAS blockers' dosage reduction was the usual management.

What is the context? Hypertension is a strong independent risk factor for development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and progression of CKD to ESKD. Improved adherence to the guidelines in the treatment of CKD is believed to provide further reduction of cardiorenal events. European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centres (ESH-ECs) have been developed in Europe to provide excellency regarding management of patients with hypertension and implement guidelines. Numerous deficits regarding general practitioner CKD screening, use of nephroprotective drugs and referral to nephrologists prior to referral to ESH-ECs have been reported. In contrast, real-life management of these patients among ESH-ECs is unknown. Before implementation of strategies to improve guideline adherence in Europe, we aimed to investigate how patients with CKD are managed among the ESH-ECs.What is the study about? In this study, a survey was conducted in 2023 by the ESH to assess management of CKD patients referred to ESH-ECs. The questionnaire contained 64 questions asking ESH-ECs representatives to estimate how patients with CKD are managed among their centres.What are the results? RAAS blockers are initiated in 90% of ESH-ECs in CKD patients, but the initiation of MRA and SGLT2i is less frequently done. Hyperkalemia is the main barrier for initiation or adequate dosing of RAAS blockade, and its most reported management was RAAS blockers dosage reduction. These findings will be crucial to implement strategies in order to improve management of patients with CKD and guideline adherence among ESH-ECs.

Screening and management of hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease referred to Hypertension Excellence Centres among 27 countries. A pilot survey based on questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: Real-life management of hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. METHODS: A survey was conducted in 2023 by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) to assess management of CKD patients referred to ESH-Hypertension Excellence Centres (ESH-ECs) at first referral visit. The questionnaire contained 64 questions with which ESH-ECs representatives were asked to estimate preexisting CKD management quality. RESULTS: Overall, 88 ESH-ECs from 27 countries participated (fully completed surveys: 66/88 [75.0%]). ESH-ECs reported that 28% (median, interquartile range: 15-50%) had preexisting CKD, with 10% of them (5-30%) previously referred to a nephrologist, while 30% (15-40%) had resistant hypertension. The reported rate of previous recent (<6 months) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) testing were 80% (50-95%) and 30% (15-50%), respectively. The reported use of renin-angiotensin system blockers was 80% (70-90%). When a nephrologist was part of the ESH-EC teams the reported rates SGLT2 inhibitors (27.5% [20-40%] vs. 15% [10-25], P = 0.003), GLP1-RA (10% [10-20%] vs. 5% [5-10%], P = 0.003) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (20% [10-30%] vs. 15% [10-20%], P = 0.05) use were greater as compared to ESH-ECs without nephrologist participation. The rate of reported resistant hypertension, recent eGFR and UACR results and management of CKD patients prior to referral varied widely across countries. CONCLUSIONS: Our estimation indicates deficits regarding CKD screening, use of nephroprotective drugs and referral to nephrologists before referral to ESH-ECs but results varied widely across countries. This information can be used to build specific programs to improve care in hypertensives with CKD.

Opportunistic screening for hypertension in the general population in Greece: International Society of Hypertension May Measurement Month 2019.

Hypertension remains a major public health issue with inadequate control worldwide. The May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative by the International Society of Hypertension was implemented in Greece in 2019 aiming to raise hypertension awareness and control. Adult volunteers (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic screening in five urban areas. Information on medical history and triplicate sitting blood pressure (BP) measurements were obtained using validated automated upper-arm devices. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥90 mmHg, and/or self-reported use of drugs for hypertension. A total of 5727 were analysed [mean age 52.7 (SD 16.6) years, men 46.5%, 88.3% had BP measurement in the last 18 months]. The prevalence of hypertension was (41.6%) and was higher in men and in older individuals. Among individuals with hypertension, 78.7% were diagnosed, 73.1% treated, and 48.3% controlled. Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were higher in women and in older individuals. Hypertensives had a higher body mass index (BMI) and were more likely to have diabetes, myocardial infarction and stroke, and less likely to smoke than normotensives (all P < 0.001). Among treated hypertensives, 65.1% were on monotherapy, and with increasing number of antihypertensive drugs the BP levels were higher and hypertension control rates lower. The prevalence of hypertension in Greece is high, with considerable potential for improving awareness, treatment, and control. Screening programmes, such as MMM, need to be widely implemented at the population level, together with training programmes for healthcare professionals aiming to optimise management and control.

Pulmonary Embolism Prophylaxis in Patients With COVID-19: An Emerging Issue.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 virus disease (coronavirus disease 2019; COVID-19) is associated with increased coagulation activity, resulting in an excessive risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and poor prognosis. The most common manifestation of VTE is pulmonary embolism (PE), with approximately one in five hospitalised patients being at risk. These reports led to the empirical use of prophylactic anticoagulation, even in the absence of established or clinically suspected disease. This review summarises current aspects and recommendations regarding the use of thromboprophylaxis for PE in patients with COVID-19.

Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Newer Antihyperglycemic Agents (SGLT-2 Inhibitors, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, and DPP-4 Inhibitors).

The prevalence of arterial hypertension is high in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). When DM and hypertension coexist, they constitute a dual cardiovascular threat and should be adequately controlled. Novel antihyperglycemic agents, including sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, have recently been used in the treatment of DM. Beyond their glucose-lowering effects, these drugs have shown beneficial pleiotropic cardiovascular effects, including lowering of arterial blood pressure (BP), as acknowledged in the 2019 European Society of Cardiology/European Association for the Study of Diabetes guidelines on diabetes, prediabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this review was to summarize the available information on the BP-reducing effects of these new glucose-lowering drug classes and provide a brief report on underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. We also compare the three drug classes (SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 RAs, and DPP-4 inhibitors) in terms of their BP-lowering effect and show that the greater BP reduction seems to be achieved with SGLT-2 inhibitors, whereas DPP-4 inhibitors have probably the mildest antihypertensive effect.

Management of Dyslipidemia in Individuals with Low-to-Moderate Cardiovascular Risk: Role of Nutraceuticals.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature deaths globally and in Ukraine. Dyslipidemia is a recognized risk factor for the development of CVD. Therefore, early detection and appropriate management of dyslipidemia are essential for the primary prevention of CVDs. However, currently, there is a lack of Ukraine-specific guideline recommendations focusing on the management of dyslipidemia in individuals with low-to-moderate CV risk, thus creating an urgent need for structured and easily implementable clinical recommendations/guidelines specific to the country. An expert panel of cardiologists, endocrinologists, and family physicians convened in Ukraine in March 2019. The expert panel critically reviewed and analyzed the current literature and put forth the following recommendations for the management of dyslipidemia in individuals with low-to-moderate risk of CVDs specific to Ukraine: (1) family physicians have the greatest opportunities in carrying out primary prevention; (2) lipid-lowering interventions are essential for primary prevention as per guidelines; (3) a number of nutraceuticals and nutraceutical combinations with clinically established lipid-lowering properties can be considered for primary prevention; they also have a suggested role as an alternative therapy for statin-intolerant patients; (4) on the basis of clinical evidence, nutraceuticals are suggested by guidelines for primary prevention; (5) red yeast rice has potent CV-risk-lowering potential, in addition to lipid-lowering properties; (6) in patients with low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk, a nutraceutical combination of low-dose red yeast rice and synergic lipid-lowering compounds can be used as integral part of guideline-recommended lifestyle interventions for effective primary prevention strategy; (7) nutraceutical combination can be used in patients aged 18 to 75+ years; its use is particularly appropriate in the age group of 18-44 years; (8) it is necessary to attract the media (websites, etc.) to increase patient awareness on the importance of primary prevention; and (9) it is necessary to legally separate nutraceuticals from dietary supplements. These consensus recommendations will help physicians in Ukraine effectively manage dyslipidemia in individuals with low-to-moderate CV risk.

Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors Across the Spectrum of Hypertension.

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors represent a novel class of oral antihyperglycemic drugs that have been approved over the last decade for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Except the glucose-lowering effects, robust evidence also suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors confer benefits in cardiovascular system. The purpose of this review was to investigate the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors across the spectrum of arterial hypertension.

Labile hypertension: a new disease or a variability phenomenon?

Blood pressure (BP) is a physiological parameter with short- and long-term variability caused by complex interactions between intrinsic cardiovascular (CV) mechanisms and extrinsic environmental and behavioral factors. Available evidence suggests that not only mean BP values are important, but also BP variability (BPV) might contribute to CV events. Labile hypertension (HTN) is referred to sudden rises in BP and it seems to be linked with unfavorable outcomes. The aim of this article was to review and summarize recent evidence on BPV phenomenon, unraveling the labile HTN concept along with the prognostic value of these conditions.

Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: Potential Cardiovascular and Mortality Benefits.

BACKGROUND: The impact of overt diabetes and poor glycemic control on the risk of cardiovascular disease is well established. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, several studies demonstrated a significant increase in coronary artery disease-related death and cardiovascular events associated with HbA1c levels of greater than 7% compared with lower levels. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a novel class of anti-diabetic drugs that lower blood glucose levels through the suppression of renal glucose reabsorption thereby promoting renal glucose excretion. OBJECTIVES: To summarize data on the potential mechanisms of SGLT-2 inhibition that could exert cardiovascular benefits in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHOD: We conducted an in-depth literature search of SGLT-2 inhibitors and potential cardiovascular benefits and mechanisms that mediate those effects. RESULTS: In diabetes, expression of the SGLT-2 genes is up-regulated and renal threshold increased, resulting in increased glucose reabsorption from glomerular filtrate, reducing urinary glucose excretion and worsening hyperglycemia. SGLT-2 inhibition should offer potential cardiovascular protection in diabetic patients via attenuating hyperglycemia, blood pressure, body weight, hyperuricemia, and diabetic nephropathy. CONCLUSION: The initial data of SGLT-2 inhibitors suggest beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk among patients with diabetes mellitus. Several mechanisms are hypothesized to mediate the abovementioned benefits. Future randomized, controlled studies are needed in order to unveil the contribution of each mechanism to these outcomes.

Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: Impact on Body Weight and Blood Pressure Compared with other Antidiabetic Drugs.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose co-transporters 2 inhibitors have emerged as a novel antidiabetic class of drugs offering significant ameliorating effects on a variety of cardiovascular risk factors, secondary to their mechanism of action, including blood pressure and body weight. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to discuss available data on the impact of SGLT-2 inhibitors on blood pressure and body weight compared with other available anti-diabetic drugs and to present potential mechanisms mediating these effects. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to identify studies examining the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors on blood pressure and body weight. RESULTS: SGLT-2 inhibition has been related with a mild decrease in blood pressure of approximately 3-5mmHg in systolic and 1-2mmHg in diastolic blood pressure. These data have been confirmed with 24h ambulatory measurements, as well. Furthermore, given the loss of calories in the urine, a mild decrease in body weight is anticipated, as well. Studies with this class of drugs noted a reduction in body weight of 2 to 3 kg, similar to the loss noted with the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 analogues, the only class of drugs that has offered significant reductions in body weight so far. Consclusion: The beneficial effects of the SGLT-2 inhibition on an abundance of cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure and body weight, have created great expectations for potential benefits from the cardiovascular events standpoint, a theory that was confirmed in the two available cardiovascular studies of this promising class of drugs.

Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: The Pleiotropic Mechanisms of Actions.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a new class of oral antidiabetic drugs. So far, there are three agents approved for use in Europe and in the USA, two in Japan and another four agents under testing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the mechanism of action and the favorable and adverse effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors. METHOD: A thorough review of literature indexed in PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases were conducted. Original papers, review papers and their relevant references in English, from 2005 to February 2017, were included. RESULTS: The main mechanism of action is the glycosuria induced by the inhibition of SGLT-2, located in the early segment of the proximal convoluted tubule. Along with large amounts of glucose, sodium, water and uric acid are also excessively excreted in urine. These actions have various, both desired and adverse, consequent implications in kidneys, blood pressure, cardiovascular system and other systems. Moreover, SGLT-2 inhibitors act directly to organs other than the kidneys, as SGLT-2 can be expressed there. CONCLUSION: The underlying mechanisms responsible for the SGLT-2 inhibitor actions, are pleiotropic and occur in the kidneys, as well as in other target organs. The comprehension of these mechanisms, not only permits us to understand their actions better, but it could also help us to predict more of their undisclosed favorable actions, as well as their rare adverse effects.

Arterial hypertension and aortic valve stenosis: Shedding light on a common "liaison".

Arterial hypertension and aortic valve stenosis are common disorders and frequently present as concomitant diseases, especially in elderly patients. The impact of hypertension on heart haemodynamics is substantial, thus affecting the clinical presentation of any coexisting valvulopathy, especially of aortic stenosis. However, the interaction between these 2 entities is not thoroughly discussed in the European or/and American guidelines on the management of hypertension or/and valvular heart disease. The present review summarizes all available evidence on the potential interplay between hypertension and aortic valve stenosis, aiming to help physicians understand the pathophysiology and select the best diagnostic and therapeutic strategies (medical or/and interventional) for better management of these high-risk patients, taking into account the impact on outcome as well as the risk-benefit-ratio.

Apelin and Visfatin Plasma Levels in Healthy Individuals With High Normal Blood Pressure.

BACKGROUND: High normal blood pressure (BP; 130-139/85-89 mm Hg) is related with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk compared to normal BP (120-129/80-84 mm Hg) or/and optimal BP (<120/80 mm Hg). Low apelin plasma levels have been associated with arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis, while high visfatin plasma levels may promote vascular inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and have been evaluated as a marker for identifying stages of essential hypertension. We sought to compare the apelin and visfatin plasma levels between subjects with high normal BP and subjects with normal or optimal BP matched for age, gender, smoking, and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Twenty-five subjects with high normal BP (office BP 136±3/88±2 mm Hg, age 57±4 years, 76% males, 32% smokers, BMI 24.0±1.7 kg/m2) and 35 subjects with normal or optimal BP (office BP 118±2/78±2 mm Hg, age 55±7 years, 63% males, 29% smokers, BMI 23.2±1.4 kg/m2) were studied. The apelin and visfatin plasma levels were determined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared to normal or optimal BP subjects, apelin levels were significantly lower (205±108 vs. 325±152 pg/ml, P < 0.001) and visfatin levels significantly higher (11.0±2.0 vs. 7.2±0.9 ng/ml, P = 0.002) in high normal BP subjects. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups (P = NS) regarding the basic clinical characteristics, the glycemic/lipid profile, and the renal function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The emerging, from the present study, data raise the hypothesis that lower apelin and higher visfatin plasma levels in high normal BP subjects compared to normal or optimal BP individuals could partially explain the higher CV risk of the high normal BP group.

Correlation of 24-Hour Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability to Renal Function Parameters in Hypertensive Patients. The Effect of Smoking.

Intrarenal hemodynamics depend on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and smoking. Although BP levels have been associated with kidney function, the effect of HR levels, BP, and HR variability on renal function are less well clarified. This cross-sectional study sought to determine the association of 24-hour BP and HR variability with kidney function in hypertensive patients, stratified by smoking. The study comprised 9600 nondiabetic, never-treated hypertensive individuals without evident renal impairment examined from 1985 to 2014 (aged 53.3±13.4 years, 55.3% males). The 24-hour systolic BP (SBP) and HR variability were estimated via their coefficient of variation (CV =standard deviation×100/mean value) derived from ambulatory recording. The CV SBP-to-CV HR ratio (CV R) was used as a marker of the interplay between 24-hour SBP and HR variability. Renal function was estimated via 24-hour urine creatinine clearance (CrCl), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), and 24-hour urine α1 -microglobulin. After adjustment for age, sex, and smoking, CV SBP was found to be weakly correlated to eGFR (r=-0.017, P=.1) and somewhat more strongly to CrCl, ACR, and α1 -microglobulin (r=-0.032, 0.072, and 0.065; P=.002, <.001 and <.001, respectively). CV HR was much better related to renal function, with stronger adjusted correlations to CrCl, eGFR, ACR, and α1 -microglobulin (r=0.185, 0.134, -0.306, -0.247; all P<.001, respectively). CV R also showed equally good adjusted correlations (r=-0.175, -0.125, 0.336, 0.262; all P<.001, respectively). Most adjusted correlations for CV HR and CV R were even better in smokers (r=0.213, 0.158, -0.332, -0.272 and -0.183, -0.118, 0.351, 0.275, respectively; all P<.001). CV HR and CV R emerge as better related to kidney function than CV SBP, especially in smokers. The correlation of CV HR and CV SBP to renal function is inverse to each other. ACR and α1 -microglobulin are better related to variability indices than CrCl and eGFR. However, causal relations cannot be proved.

Genetic Variant in the CYP19A1 Gene Associated with Coronary Artery Disease.

The CYP19A1 gene encodes the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for the biosynthesis of estrogens. The rs10046 polymorphism of CYP19A1 gene has been investigated in two studies on the occurrence of hypertension, but there are no studies on its correlation with coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated 189 subjects who were hospitalized at "KAT" General Hospital of Athens and underwent coronary angiography. Of these, 123 were found with CAD with an average age of 60 years and constituted the patients group and 66 subjects with an average age of 58 years without damage in the coronary vessels and constituted the control group (healthy). The frequencies of genotypes CC, CT, and TT of rs10046 polymorphism are significantly different between the group of CAD patients and the control group (0.34, 0.48, and 0.18 versus 0.20, 0.48, and 0.32, resp., P = 0.034) as the frequency of C allele (0.58 versus 0.44, resp., OR = 1.771 and P = 0.010). We found similar results for men, but not for women (small sample). The results of this study show that the rs10046 (C/T) polymorphism of CYP19A1 gene exhibits correlation with CAD and that patients with C allele have an increased probability of manifesting the disease.

2013 ESH/ESC guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: what has changed in daily clinical practice?

This is a review article aiming to make focus on the changes made in the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)/European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension with some criticism for each element discussed in the text. Given that in the real world clinical practice physicians would hardly spend the time needed for studying the 77 pages manuscript of the recently released 2013 ESH/ESC hypertension guidelines, the present review summarizes all the significant updates (along with their clinical implications) compared to the 2007 ESH/ESC hypertension guidelines and the 2009 reappraisal document.