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.

Verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia and concomitant atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

We describe the case of a young patient with runs of repetitive monomorphic left ventricular tachycardia. He was diagnosed with verapamil-sensitive, idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) and underwent an electrophysiological study, in which dual atrioventricular (AV) nodal physiology was evident, with an AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) being easily and reproducibly induced. Both the AVNRT and the ILVT were successfully ablated using high-density electroanatomical mapping and an open-irrigation catheter. In conclusion, verapamil-sensitive ILVT might coexist with AVNRT. In case of invasive therapy, a thorough electrophysiological evaluation is mandatory to exclude or treat other co-existing reentrant supraventricular arrhythmias.

The Mystery of High-density Lipoprotein: Quantity or Quality? Update on Therapeutic Strategies.

This review summarizes the data challenging the concept that cardiovascular protection through high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is only associated with its serum concentration. This conventional impression about its protective role now appears obsolete. New aspects of its mechanisms are revealed and novel therapeutic strategies are based on them. However, data from long-term cost-effectiveness studies of treating HDL are still needed. There is a need for biomarkers that represent the functional characteristics of HDL in order to better quantify the total cardiovascular risk.

Adenosine as an Adjunct Therapy in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients: Myth or Truth?

Early reperfusion represents the key strategy in ST elevation myocardial infarction. However, reperfusion may induce myocardial damage due to the reperfusion myocardial injury, compromising the full potential of reperfusion therapy and accounting for unfavourable results in high risk patients. Adenosine seems to attenuate ischemia reperfusion injury, and thus represents a promising therapeutic option for treating such patients. However, previous randomized clinical trials have collectively failed to demonstrate whether adenosine can effectively reduce measures of myocardial injury and improve clinical outcome, despite its good basic evidence. The failure of such trials to show a real beneficial action may be in part related to specific factors other than adenosine's clinical efficacy. The purpose of this review is to explain the rationale for the use of adenosine as an adjunctive pharmacological cardio-protective agent following reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium, to address the weakness of previous trials and to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the effect of adenosine administration on reperfusion myocardial injury in patients with myocardial infarction. Although some preclinical and clinical studies point towards the beneficial role of adenosine in the prevention and treatment of no-reflow phenomenon in myocardial infarction, many unanswered questions still remain, including the optimal clinical indication, mode, dosage, duration and timing of application, and the exact mechanisms leading to potential benefits. Clarifying these issues will depend on further properly designed, adequately powered and well conducted clinical trials, which will probably provide us with the definite answers.

The association of Restless Legs Syndrome with hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), is a sensory-motor neurological disorder that appears to be surprisingly common in the community. Periodic limb movements in sleep are typically encountered in more than 80% of RLS patients and comprise involuntary muscular jerks in the lower limbs, such as flexion of the knees or ankles.  Iron deficiency and dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction in the central nervous system are currently thought to be the likely pathophysiological culprits. There is evidence linking RLS to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This short review will first present a synopsis of epidemiological, clinical and pathophysiological data concerning the syndrome, and then information on the possible links between RLS and cardiovascular disorders.

Anti-ischemic and pleiotropic effects of ranolazine in chronic coronary syndromes.

The vast majority of antianginal drugs decrease heart rate and or blood pressure levels or the inotropic status of the left ventricle to decrease myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) and thus anginal symptoms. Ranolazine presents a completely different mechanism of action, which reduces the sodium-dependent calcium overload inhibiting the late sodium current. Current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of angina in patients with chronic coronary symptoms recommend the use of several drugs such as ranolazine, b-blockers, calcium channel blockers, long-acting nitrates, ivabradine, nicorandil and trimetazidine for angina relief. However, ranolazine, in addition to symptom relief properties, is an antianginal drug showing favorable effects in decreasing the arrhythmic burden and in ameliorating the glycemic profile of these patients. In this review, we summarize the available data regarding the antianginal and pleiotropic effects of this drug.

Exercise and cardiac rehabilitation in hypertensive patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A position statement on behalf of the Working Group of Arterial Hypertension of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology.

Arterial hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and the most common cause of comorbidity in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). As an adjunct to medication, healthy lifestyle modifications with emphasis on regular exercise are strongly recommended by both the hypertension and the HF guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. Several long-term studies have shown that exercise is associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality, a favorable cardiac and metabolic risk profile, mental health, and other non-cardiovascular benefits, as well as an improvement in overall quality of life. However, the instructions for the prescriptive or recommended exercise in hypertensive patients and, more specifically, in those with HFpEF are not well defined. Moreover, the evidence is based on observational or small randomized studies, while well-designed clinical trials are lacking. Despite the proven benefit and the guidelines' recommendations, exercise programs and cardiac rehabilitation in patients with hypertensive heart disease and HFpEF are grossly underutilized. This position statement provides a general framework for exercise and exercise-based rehabilitation in patients with hypertension and HFpEF, guides clinicians' rehabilitation strategies, and facilitates clinical practice. It has been endorsed by the Working Group of Arterial Hypertension of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology and is focused on the Health Care System in Greece.

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.

Diagnosis and risk stratification in acute pulmonary embolism: the role of echocardiography.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequently encountered clinical condition with a high mortality rate that is affected by various factors such as age, hemodynamics, and other comorbidities. Early diagnosis and risk stratification are crucial to achieving a favorable clinical outcome. New risk stratification algorithms have been proposed in order to identify high-risk patients who will benefit from early thrombolytic treatment. Among the various validated diagnostic methods, the role of echocardiography is increasingly accepted. Recent advances in studying right ventricular function have made echocardiography an attractive tool for establishing or excluding the diagnosis of acute PE in the emergency setting and initiating optimal therapy.

Aortic valve stenosis and arterial hypertension: a synopsis in 2013.

Systemic hypertension and aortic valve stenosis (AVS) are both age-related diseases. The pathophysiology of AVS shares some similarities with essential hypertension, which might be the link between the two diseases. Although AS is usually related with low blood pressure levels, approximately one third of patients with severe AS suffer from arterial hypertension, a percentage that can increase up to 50 % according some studies. This review will summarize various aspects regarding the prevalence the pathophysiology and the natural history of those two diseases that seems to be linked, as well as the effect of blood pressure and antihypertensive treatment on various echocardiographic parameters in patients with AVS.

Effects of ranolazine on various outcomes in patients with stable angina: an updated meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We determined the effect of ranolazine vs. placebo in angina patients on 1) selective measures of the ischemic burden, 2) cardiovascular outcomes, including atrial fibrillation incidence, 3) the in-treatment glycohemoglobin levels and the permanent discontinuations because of side effects, and 4) the achieved between-arms blood pressure and heart rate difference. METHODS: PubMed and Cochrane Collaboration Library databases were searched for eligible trials until end of September 2020. Trial quality was assessed by the Rob2 tool. Risk ratios or achieved mean differences during follow-up and 95% confidence interval (CI) of categorical or continuous outcomes, respectively, were calculated (random-effects model). The relationship between discontinuation rates and ranolazine's mean dose was investigated by meta-regression analysis. RESULTS: We selected 18 trials (n = 12,995 patients in patients with macro or microvascular coronary heart disease. Achieved blood pressure and heart rate at rest were not different between randomized arms. Ranolazine administration compared to placebo was associated with an increase of 1) total exercise duration by 30 seconds (95% CI, 18-42), 2) time to 1 mm ST-segment depression by 44 seconds (95% CI, 30-54), and 3) time to angina onset by 40 seconds (95% CI, 30-54). On average, the incidence of atrial fibrillation was reduced by 25% following ranolazine treatment compared to placebo, while glycohemoglobin showed a mean decrease of 0.4% (95% CI, 0.3-0.5%). DISCUSSION: Ranolazine remains an effective anti-ischemic drug, increases the angina-free exercise duration, delays the onset of ST-segment depression. The beneficial effects of ranolazine are extended to atrial fibrillation reduction rates and better glycemic control.

Recent clinical trials in atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically significant sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and Hypertension (HTN) is the most common cardiovascular disorder. AF is a major risk factor for strokes whether it is symptomatic or silent. Recent publications have shed light on the role of antihypertensive regiments in prevention of AF, while others have provided data on the efficacy and safety of novel antiarrhythmic drugs such as dronedarone and vernakalant. The older CHADS(2) score and its more refined modern counterparts are well validated to determine stroke risk and guide antithrombotic therapy, but haemorrhagic risk has to be respected as well, and scores such as HAS-BLED should be widely used. Novel classes of anticoagulants that overcome many of the drawbacks of warfarin have been introduced with promising results and pose new questions that need to be answered in the near future.

Prognostic significance of blood pressure response to exercise in patients with systolic heart failure.

High systolic blood pressure (SBP) has been linked to worse cardiovascular outcomes. However, emerging data suggest that in patients with heart failure (HF), low SBP correlates with increased mortality. The purpose was to examine the impact of baseline and post-exercise systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), as well as pulse pressure (PP), on cardiac mortality in patients with systolic HF. One hundred sixty patients with systolic HF (left ventricular ejection fraction 33 ± 8) were studied. Blood pressure (BP) levels were determined at rest and at peak exercise during a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Patients were followed up for a period of 2.5 ± 0.8 years. During this period 22 patients died and 5 subjects underwent heart transplantation. Patients with higher SBP and DBP at rest, and patients with SBP ≥160 mmHg and PP ≥75 mmHg at peak exercise had the most favorable prognosis. There was a fourfold increase in cardiac mortality risk for patients with SBP <160 mmHg at peak exercise (hazard ratio: 3.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.60-9.84) and a threefold increase for patients with PP <75 mmHg at peak exercise (hazard ratio: 2.96, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-6.82). There is an inverse relationship between SBP and cardiac mortality in patients with systolic HF. BP response to exercise could serve as a simple risk stratification model in HF patients.

Late traumatic aortic dissection.

Traumatic dissection of the aorta is a well-documented entity with poor prognosis and broad spectrum of clinical presentations. We report a rare case of an asymptomatic late presentation of aortic dissection after a high-speed vehicle accident. This case highlights the importance of high clinical suspicion for the diagnosis of aortic dissection.

Opportunistic screening for hypertension: what does it say about the true epidemiology?

This study aimed to assess the reliability of opportunistic screening programs in estimating the prevalence, treatment, and control rate of hypertension in the general population. Two recent epidemiological surveys obtained data on hypertension in the adult general population in Greece. The EMENO (2013-2016) applied a multi-stage stratified random sampling method to collect nationwide data. The MMM (2019) collected data through opportunistic (voluntary) screening in five large cities. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg (single occasion; average of 2nd-3rd measurement; electronic devices) and/or use of antihypertensive drugs. Data from a total of 10,426 adults were analyzed (EMENO 4,699; MMM 5,727). Mean age (SD) was 49.2 (18.6)/52.7 (16.6) years (EMENO/MMM, p < 0.001), men 48.6/46.5% (p < 0.05) and body mass index 28.2 (5.7)/27.1 (5.0) kg/m2 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension in ΕΜΕΝΟ/MMM was 39.6/41.6% (p < 0.05) and was higher in men (42.7/50.9%, p < 0.001) than in women (36.5/33.6%, p < 0.05). Among hypertensive subjects, unaware were 31.8/21.3% (EMENO/MMM, p < 0.001), aware untreated 2.7/5.6% (p < 0.001), treated uncontrolled 35.1/24.8% (p < 0.001), and treated controlled 30.5/48.3% (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of hypertension was similar with random sampling (EMENO) and opportunistic screening (MMM). However, opportunistic screening underestimated the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and overestimated the rate of hypertension treatment and control. Thus, random sampling national epidemiological studies are necessary for assessing the epidemiology of hypertension. Screening programs are useful for increasing awareness of hypertension in the general population, yet the generalization of such findings should be interpreted with caution.

Benefits of physical training on exercise capacity, inspiratory muscle function, and quality of life in patients with ventricular assist devices long-term postimplantation.

BACKGROUND: Capacity to exercise may not be fully restored in patients with heart failure even in the long term after ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. The benefits of exercise training in patients with VAD are unknown. DESIGN AND METHODS: Fifteen patients, aged 38.3 ± 15.9 years, bridged to heart transplantation with left ventricular assist device or biventricular assist device were randomized at a ratio of 2 : 1 to a training group (TG, n = 10) or a control group (n = 5), 6.3 ± 4 months after implantation. Both the groups were advised to walk 30­45 min/day. TG also underwent moderate-intensity aerobic exercise using a bike or treadmill for 45 min, three to five times a week, combined with high-intensity inspiratory muscle training using a computer-designed software to respiratory exhaustion, two to three times a week for 10 weeks. The patients were tested using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 6-min walk test, spirometry and electronic pressure manometer for inspiratory muscle strength (Pimax) and endurance (sustained Pimax) measurement. Quality of life was assessed with the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire. RESULTS: TG improved peak oxygen consumption (19.3 ± 4.5 vs. 16.8 ± 3.7 ml/kg per min, P = 0.008) and VO2 at ventilatory threshold (15.1 ± 4.2 vs. 12 ± 5.6 ml/kg per min, P = 0.01), whereas the ventilation/carbon dioxide slope decreased (35.9 ± 5.6 vs. 40 ± 6.5, P = 0.009). The 6-min walk test distance increased (527 ± 76 vs. 462 ± 88 m, P = 0.005) and quality of life was improved (38.2 ± 11.6 vs. 48.9 ± 12.8, P = 0.005), as well as Pimax (131.8 ± 33 vs. 95.5 ± 28cmH2O, P = 0.005), sustained Pimax (484 ± 195 vs. 340 ± 193cmH2O/s/103, P = 0.005), and inspiratory lung capacity (2.4 ± 0.9 vs. 1.7 ± 0.7 L, P = 0.008) were improved. No significant changes were noted in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that exercise training may improve the functional status of VAD recipients even at a later period after implantation and thus, may have additional importance in cases of destination therapy.

Torasemide in Hypertension and Heart Failure: Re-inventing Loop Diuretic Therapy?

In heart failure (HF) patients, current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines recommend the use of three loop diuretics (furosemide, torasemide, bumetanide) in order to not only reduce HF hospitalizations but also improve symptoms and exercise capacity in patients with signs and/or symptoms of congestion. In addition, for the first time in hypertensive patients, European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines recommend the use of torasemide. This review aimed to summarize the mode of action of loop diuretics, to present their pharmacokinetic characteristics, and to discuss their place in the management of arterial hypertension and heart failure, with special emphasis however on torasemide.