Improving cardiovascular control in a hypertensive population in primary care. Results from a staff training intervention.

OBJECTIVE: A pilot study to evaluate a staff training intervention implementing a nurse-led hypertension care model. DESIGN AND SETTING: Clinical and laboratory data from all primary care centres (PCCs) in the Swedish region Västra Götaland (VGR), retrieved from regional registers. Intervention started 2018 in 11 PCCs. A total of 190 PCCs served as controls. Change from baseline was assessed 2 years after start of intervention. INTERVENTION: Training of selected personnel, primarily in drug choice, team-based care, measurement techniques, and use of standardized medical treatment protocols. PATIENTS: Hypertensive patients without diabetes or ischemic heart disease were included. The intervention and control groups contained approximately 10,000 and 145,000 individuals, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure (BP) <140/90 mmHg, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) <3.0 mmol/L, BP ending on -0 mmHg (digit preference, an indirect sign of manual measuring technique), choice of antihypertensive drugs, cholesterol lowering therapy and attendance patterns were measured. RESULTS: In the intervention group, the percentage of patients reaching the BP target did not change significantly, 56%-61% (control 50%-52%), non-significant. However, the percentage of patients with LDL-C < 3.0 mmol/L increased from 34%-40% (control 36%-36%), p = .043, and digit preference decreased, 39%-27% (control 41%-35%), p = 0.000. The number of antihypertensive drugs was constant, 1.63 - 1.64 (control 1.62 - 1.62), non-significant, but drug choice changed in line with recommendations. CONCLUSION: Although this primary care intervention based on staff training failed to improve BP control, it resulted in improved cardiovascular control by improved cholesterol lowering treatment.

Hypertension is common and often suboptimally treated in relation to existing guidelines.This register study evaluates the results of a staff training intervention promoting nurse-led care.The intervention had an impact on measurement techniques, drug choice and improved cholesterol control.

The association between peripheral arterial disease and risk for hip fractures in elderly men is not explained by low hip bone mineral density. Results from the MrOS Sweden study.

In this prospective study in Swedish elderly men, PAD based on an ABI < 0.9 was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, independent of age and hip BMD. However, after further adjustments for comorbidity, medications, physical function, and socioeconomic factors, the association diminished and was no longer statistically significant. INTRODUCTION: To examine if peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with an increased risk for hip fracture in men independent of hip BMD. METHODS: Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was assessed in the Swedish MrOS (Osteoporotic Fractures in Men) study, a prospective observational study including 3014 men aged 69-81 years at baseline. PAD was defined as ABI < 0.90. Incident fractures were assessed in computerized X-ray archives. The risk for hip fractures was calculated using Cox proportional hazard models. At baseline, BMD was assessed using DXA (Lunar Prodigy and Hologic QDR 4500) and functional measurements and blood samples were collected. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect information about medical history, falls, and medication. RESULTS: During 10 years of follow-up, 186 men had an incident hip fracture. The hazard ratio (HR) for hip fracture in men with PAD was 1.70 (95% CI 1.14-2.54), adjusted for age and study site. Additional adjustment for total hip BMD marginally affected this association (HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.10-2.45). In a final multivariate model, the HR attenuated to a non-significant HR 1.38 (95% CI 0.91-2.11) adjusted for age, site, hip BMD, BMI, falls, smoking, eGFR, handgrip strength, walking speed, former hip fracture, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes, education, and history of cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that PAD is associated with an increased risk for hip fracture independently of hip BMD in elderly Swedish men. However, the high frequency of comorbidity and lower physical performance among men with PAD might partly explain this association.

Socioeconomic status affects achievement of blood pressure target in hypertension: contemporary results from the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relation between socioeconomic status and achievement of target blood pressure in hypertension. DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study between 2001 and 2014. SETTING: Primary health care in Skaraborg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 48,254 patients all older than 30 years, and 53.3% women, with diagnosed hypertension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of patients who achieved a blood pressure target <140/90 mmHg in relation to the country of birth, personal disposable income, and educational level. RESULTS: Patients had a lower likelihood of achieving the blood pressure target if they were born in a Nordic country outside Sweden [risk ratio 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-0.97], or born in Europe outside the Nordic countries (risk ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.82-0.92), compared to those born in Sweden. Patients in the lowest income quantile had a lower likelihood to achieve blood pressure target, as compared to the highest quantile (risk ratio 0.93; 95% CI 0.90-0.96). Educational level was not associated with outcome. Women but not men in the lowest income quantile were less likely to achieve the blood pressure target. There was no sex difference in achieved blood pressure target with respect to the country of birth or educational level. CONCLUSION: In this real-world population of primary care patients with hypertension in Sweden, being born in a foreign European country and having a lower income were factors associated with poorer blood pressure control.KEY POINTSThe association between socioeconomic status and achieving blood pressure targets in hypertension has been ambiguous.•In this study of 48,254 patients with hypertension, lower income was associated with a reduced likelihood to achieve blood pressure control.•Being born in a foreign European country is associated with a lower likelihood to achieve blood pressure control.•We found no association between educational level and achieved blood pressure control.

Drug adherence in treatment resistant and in controlled hypertension-Results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD).

PURPOSE: To assess drug adherence in patients treated with ≥3 antihypertensive drug classes, with both controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure and describe associated factors for nonadherence. METHODS: Patients with hypertension, without cardiovascular comorbidity, aged >30 years treated with ≥3 antihypertensive drug classes were followed for 2 years. Both patients with treatment resistant hypertension (TRH) and patients with controlled hypertension were included. Clinical data were derived from a primary care database. Pharmacy refill data from the Swedish Prescribed drug registry was used to calculate proportion of days covered (PDC). Patients with a PDC level ≥ 80% were included. RESULTS: We found 5846 patients treated ≥3 antihypertensive drug classes, 3508 with TRH (blood pressure ≥ 140/90), and 2338 with controlled blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg). TRH patients were older (69.1 vs 65.8 years, P < .0001) but had less diabetes (28.5 vs 31.7%, P < .009) compared with patients with controlled blood pressure. The proportion of patients with PDC ≥ 80% declined with 11% during the first year in both groups. Having diabetes was associated with staying adherent at 1 year (RR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68-0.98) whilst being born outside Europe was associated with nonadherence at one and (RR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.49-2.82). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multiple antihypertensive drug therapy had similar decline in adherence over time regardless of initial blood pressure control. Diabetes was associated with better adherence, which may imply that the structured caregiving of these patients enhances antihypertensive drug treatment.

Aldosterone to Renin Ratio as a Screening Instrument for Primary Aldosteronism in a Middle-Aged Population with Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation seems to be overrepresented among patients with primary aldosteronism. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of aldosterone to renin ratio as a screening instrument for primary aldosteronism in an atrial fibrillation population with relatively low cardiovascular risk profile. A total of 149 patients <65 years and with history of AF were screened for primary aldosteronism using aldosterone to renin ratio. Pathologically increased aldosterone to renin ratio (>65 pmol/mIU) was found in 15 participants (10.1%). Further investigation of the positive screened participants and confirmatory saline infusion test resulted in a diagnosis of primary aldosteronism in four individuals out of 149 (2.6%). Three out of the four individuals with primary aldosteronism had previously been diagnosed with hypertension, but only one out of the four had uncontrolled blood pressure, that is, >140/90 mmHg. All participants had normal potassium levels. Individuals with increased aldosterone to renin ratio had significantly higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in comparison to participants with normal aldosterone to renin ratio (136 vs. 126 mmHg, p=0.02 and 84 vs. 78 mmHg, p=0.02). These findings suggest that assessment of aldosterone to renin ratio can be useful for identification of underlying primary aldosteronism in patients with diagnosed atrial fibrillation and hypertension in spite of well controlled blood pressure and normokalemia.

Blood Pressure Response to Losartan and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

RATIONALE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in people with hypertension, particularly resistant hypertension. Treatment with an antihypertensive agent alone is often insufficient to control hypertension in patients with OSA. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) added to treatment with an antihypertensive agent has an impact on blood pressure (BP) levels. METHODS: During the initial 6-week, two-center, open, prospective, case-control, parallel-design study (2:1; OSA/no-OSA), all patients began treatment with an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan, 50 mg daily. In the second 6-week, sex-stratified, open, randomized, parallel-design study of the OSA group, all subjects continued to receive losartan and were randomly assigned to either nightly CPAP as add-on therapy or no CPAP. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-four-hour BP monitoring included assessment every 15 minutes during daytime hours and every 20 minutes during the night. Ninety-one patients with untreated hypertension underwent a home sleep study (55 were found to have OSA; 36 were not). Losartan significantly reduced systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP in both groups (without OSA: 12.6, 7.2, and 9.0 mm Hg; with OSA: 9.8, 5.7, and 6.1 mm Hg). Add-on CPAP treatment had no significant changes in 24-hour BP values but did reduce nighttime systolic BP by 4.7 mm Hg. All 24-hour BP values were reduced significantly in the 13 patients with OSA who used CPAP at least 4 hours per night. CONCLUSIONS: Losartan reduced BP in OSA, but the reductions were less than in no-OSA. Add-on CPAP therapy resulted in no significant changes in 24-hour BP measures except in patients using CPAP efficiently. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00701428).​

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and blood pressure control in patients treated for hypertension: results from the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database.

PURPOSE: The aim of this observational cohort study was to investigate blood pressure level and the possibility to reach target blood pressure during concomitant use of NSAID in hypertensive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database (SPCCD) a cohort of 5463 patients (2007 to 2008) with at least one prescription of NSAID dispensed 6 months prior to the last blood pressure measurement were included. Clinical data were extracted from computerized medical records and linked to the Prescribed Drug Register. Multivariable logistic regression models were used for analysis. RESULTS: Patients with NSAID usage were younger, more often female, with lower creatinine concentrations, more musculoskeletal diagnosis and less cardiovascular comorbidity compared to patients without dispensed NSAID (p < .0001 for all). Regular dose of NSAID was not associated with a decreased possibility to reach target blood pressure. A correlation between the dose of naproxen and an increase in SBP of 7 mm Hg was found. Impairment in renal function did not influence the association between blood pressure control and NSAID (p = .27). CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with concomitant use of NSAID the chance to reach target blood pressure was not impaired. In intermediate and frequent users of NSAID there was a dose response relation with naproxen and SBP which was not found in diclofenac and ibuprofen.

Effect of catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension.

We investigated the effect of renal denervation on office blood pressure (OBP) and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurement (ABPM) at baseline and 6 months after intervention in 25 consecutive patients with resistant hypertension. Mean baseline 24-h ABPM and OBP were 158/88 mmHg and 169/96 mmHg, respectively. Patients were treated with an average of 4 ± 1 antihypertensive drugs. Among the 22 patients included in data analysis, mean ambulatory systolic and diastolic BP were reduced by 6 mmHg from 158 ± 17 to 152 ± 20 mmHg (p < 0.05) and by 3 mmHg from 88 ± 12 to 85 ± 14 mmHg (p = ns) after 6 months follow-up, respectively. Blood pressure reduction was most pronounced during daytime with a decrease of 9 mmHg from 164 ± 17 to 155 ± 19 (p < 0.05) in systolic (SBP) and 6 mmHg from 94 ± 14 to 88 ± 14 mmHg in diastolic BP (DBP) (p < 0.05). Night-time SBP mmHg and DBP were similar at baseline compared with follow-up. Systolic and diastolic OBP during follow-up were significantly reduced by 17 mmHg from 169 ± 20 to 152 ± 21 (p < 0.05) and by 9 mmHg from 96 ± 16 to 87 ± 13 mmHg (p < 0.05), respectively. These results provide new insight into the effect of renal denervation on ABPM day- and night-time blood pressure profile in comparison with OBP. The decrease in ABPM was identified during daytime registration and was less pronounced compared with reduction of OBP.

The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD): 74 751 hypertensive primary care patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database, SPCCD. Design. Longitudinal data from electronic medical records, linked to national registers. Setting. 48 primary healthcare centres in urban (south-western Stockholm) and rural (Skaraborg) regions in Sweden. Subjects. Patients diagnosed with hypertension 2001-2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure (BP) and impact of retrieval of data on BP levels, clinical characteristics, co-morbidity and pharmacological treatment. RESULTS: The SPCCD contains 74 751 individuals, 56% women. Completeness of data ranged from > 99% for drug prescriptions to 34% for smoking habits. BP was recorded in 98% of patients during 2001-2008 and in 63% in 2008. Mean BP based on the last recorded value in 2008 was 142 ± 17/80 ± 13 mmHg. Digit preference in BP measurements differed between the two regions, p < 0.001. Antihypertensive drugs were prescribed in primary healthcare to 88% of the patients in 2008; however, when all prescribers were included 96% purchased their drugs. Cardiovascular co-morbidity and diabetes mellitus were present in 28% and 22%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This large and representative database shows that there is room for improvement of BP control in Sweden. The SPCCD will provide a rich source for further research of hypertension and its complications.

Long-term secondary prevention and outcome following acute coronary syndrome: real-world results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database.

AIMS: Most studies of treatment adherence after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are based on prescribed drugs and lack long-term follow-up or consecutive data on risk factor control. We studied the long-term treatment adherence, risk factor control, and its association to recurrent ACS and death. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively included 3765 patients (mean age 75 years, 40% women) with incident ACS from 1 January 2006 until 31 December 2010 from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database of Skaraborg. All patients were followed until 31 December 2014 or death. We recorded blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), recurrent ACS, and death. We used data on dispensed drugs to calculate the proportion of days covered for secondary prevention medications. Cox regressions were used to analyse the association of achieved BP and LDL-C to recurrent ACS and death. The median follow-up time was 4.8 years. The proportion of patients that reached BP of <140/90 mm Hg was 58% at Year 1 and 66% at Year 8. 65% of the patients reached LDL-C of <2.5 mmol/L at Year 1 and 56% at Year 8; however, adherence to statins varied from 43% to 60%. Only 62% of the patients had yearly measured BP, and only 28% yearly measured LDL-C. Systolic BP was not associated with a higher risk of recurrent ACS or death. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 3.0 mmol/L was associated with a higher risk of recurrent ACS {hazard ratio [HR] 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.40]} and death HR [1.26 (95% CI 1.08-1.47)] compared with an LDL-C of 1.8 mmol/L. CONCLUSION: This observational long-term real-world study demonstrates low drug adherence and potential for improvement of risk factors after ACS. Furthermore, the study confirms that uncontrolled LDL-C is associated with adverse outcome even in this older population.

In this real-world retrospective observational study, we followed 3765 elderly patients for up to 8 years after incident acute coronary syndrome.Only a low proportion of the studied population had yearly measured blood pressure and cholesterol, a low proportion had satisfied risk factor control (blood pressure and cholesterol), and adherence to secondary prevention medication was low.In this elderly population (mean age 75 years), higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with a higher risk of recurrent coronary event and death.

Persistence to antihypertensive drug treatment in Swedish primary healthcare.

PURPOSE: To determine factors associated with low persistence in patients initiated on drug treatment for hypertension. METHODS: Cohort study using medical records for patients with hypertension in 48 Swedish primary healthcare centres. Data were linked to national registers on dispensed drugs, hospitalizations, outpatient hospital consultations, deaths, migration, and socioeconomy. We identified 5225 patients (55 % women, mean age 61 years) initiated on antihypertensive drug treatment during 2006-2007. Persistence was measured for two years by the dispensed drugs. Patients with a gap of >30 days between end of dispensed supply and the next dispensed prescription were classified as non-persistent. This was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios for discontinuation. Potential predictors included age, gender, blood pressure before initiation of therapy, cardiovascular comorbidity, educational level, country of birth, and income. RESULTS: Among patients with a dispensed first prescription, 26 % discontinued treatment during the first year, and a further 9 % discontinued during the second year. Discontinuation (all adjusted) was more common in men (P = 0.002) and in younger patients (30-49 years, P < 0.001). Systolic (P < 0.001) but not diastolic blood pressure was positively associated with persistence. Native-born Swedish citizens and patients born in the other Nordic countries had lower discontinuation rates than those born outside the Nordic countries (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Major determinants of discontinuation of antihypertensive drug treatment are male sex, young age, mild-to-moderate systolic blood pressure elevation, and birth outside of Sweden.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities and elevated cTNT at admission for intracerebral hemorrhage: predictors for survival?

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular lesions are often associated with electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. The main purpose of this work was to investigate the prognostic value of ECG abnormalities and/or elevated cardiac troponin (cTNT) on admission in patients with nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with ICH were included. The predictive value of ECG abnormalities and increased TNT on survival were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The most frequently observed ECG abnormalities were the presence of a Q wave (39.6%), followed by prolonged QTc (>0.44 s; 35.4%), which was an independent predictor for long-term mortality (P = 0.019). No difference in QTc was observed between patients with right versus left ICH. Increased cTNT levels at admission had no prognostic value. CONCLUSION: Various ECG changes were common in patients presenting with an ICH, but only prolonged QTc was found to be an independent predictor of poor survival during follow-up after ICH.

Hypertension: sex-related differences in drug treatment, prevalence and blood pressure control in primary care.

Antihypertensive treatment is equally beneficial for reducing cardiovascular risk in both men and women. Despite this, the drug treatment, prevalence and control of hypertension differ between men and women. Men and women respond differently, particularly with respect to the risk of adverse events, to many antihypertensive drugs. Certain antihypertensive drugs may also be especially beneficial in the setting of certain comorbidities - of both cardiovascular and extracardiac nature - which also differ between men and women. Furthermore, hypertension in pregnancy can pose a considerable therapeutic challenge for women and their physicians in primary care. In addition, data from population-based studies and from real-world data are inconsistent regarding whether men or women attain hypertension-related goals to a higher degree. In population-based studies, women with hypertension have higher rates of treatment and controlled blood pressure than men, whereas real-world, primary-care data instead show better blood pressure control in men. Men and women are also treated with different antihypertensive drugs: women use more thiazide diuretics and men use more angiotensin-enzyme inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers. This narrative review explores these sex-related differences with guidance from current literature. It also features original data from a large, Swedish primary-care register, which showed that blood pressure control was better in women than men until they reached their late sixties, after which the situation was reversed. This age-related decrease in blood pressure control in women was not, however, accompanied by a proportional increase in use of antihypertensive drugs and female sex was a significant predictor of less intensive antihypertensive treatment.

Reninom ­ en ovanlig men botbar orsak till sekundär hypertoni.

Reninoma - rare juxtaglomerular tumor associated with hypertension We present a case study of two female patients, aged 20-30 years, who were diagnosed with reninoma, a rare juxtaglomerular tumor associated with hypertension, high plasma renin and hypokalemia. Both patients were referred to the Department of Internal Medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, but their cases were ten years apart. In both instances, the renin-secreting tumor was surgically removed, resulting in the normalization of blood pressure without the need for antihypertensive medication. Based on our findings, we recommend physicians interested in hypertension to analyze plasma renin levels before starting antihypertensive treatment in young patients. Additionally, we suggest performing an MRI of the kidneys followed by renal vein catheterization, which can confirm but not exclude the presence of a reninoma. It is important to note that treatment with RAAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system) blockers may mask the effects of reninoma on blood pressure and potassium levels. Since RAAS blockers are contraindicated during pregnancy, it is of particular importance to diagnose reninoma in young women of childbearing age.

Antihypertensive effect of low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in comparison with drug treatment.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for vascular disease, yet blood pressure (BP) control is unsatisfactory low, partly due to side-effects. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is well tolerated and studies have demonstrated BP reduction. In this study, we compared the BP lowering effect of 2.5 mg felodipin once daily with 30 min of bidaily low-frequency TENS in 32 adult hypertensive subjects (mean office BP 152.7/90.0 mmHg) in a randomized, crossover design. Office BP and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) were performed at baseline and at the end of each 4-week treatment and washout period. Felodipin reduced office BP by 10/6 mmHg (p <0.001 respectively) and after washout BP rose to a level still significantly lower than at baseline. TENS reduced office BP by 5/1.5 mmHg (p <0.01, ns). After TENS washout, BP was further reduced and significantly lower than at baseline, but at levels similar to BP after felodipin washout and therefore reasonably caused by factors other than the treatment per se. ABPM revealed a significant systolic reduction of 3 mmHg by felodipin, but no significant changes were noted after TENS. We conclude that our study does not present any solid evidence of BP reduction of TENS.

Trends in blood pressure, blood lipids, and smoking from 259 753 patients with hypertension in a Swedish primary care register: results from QregPV.

AIMS: To describe 8-year trends in blood pressure (BP) control, blood lipid control, and smoking habits in patients with hypertension from QregPV, a primary care register in the Region of Västra Götaland, Sweden. METHODS AND RESULTS: QregPV features clinical data on BP, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and smoking habits in 392 277 patients with hypertension or coronary heart disease or diabetes mellitus or any combination of the three diagnoses. Data from routine clinical practice have been automatically reported on a monthly basis to QregPV from all primary care centres in Västra Götaland (population 1.67 million) since 2010. Additional data on diagnoses, dispensed drugs and socioeconomic factors were acquired through linkage to regional and national registers. We identified 259 753 patients with hypertension, but without coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus, in QregPV. From 2010 to 2017, the proportion of patients with BP <140/90 mmHg increased from 38.9% to 49.1%, while the proportion of patients with LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L increased from 19.7% to 21.1% and smoking decreased from 15.7% to 12.3%. However, in 2017, only 10.0% of all patients with hypertension had attained target levels of BP <140/90 mmHg, LDL-C < 2.6 mmol/L while being also non-smokers. The remaining 90.0% were still exposed to at least one uncontrolled, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: These regionwide data from eight consecutive years in 259 753 patients with hypertension demonstrate a large potential for risk factor improvement. An increased use of statins and antihypertensive drugs should, in addition to lifestyle modifications, decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in these patients.

Obesity, overweight and risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality in young women.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between body mass index (BMI) in young women, using weight early in pregnancy as a proxy for pre-pregnancy weight, and risk for early cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective, registry-based study, we used weight data in early pregnancy from women, registered in the Swedish Medical Birth Registry, and who gave birth between 1982 and 2014 (n = 1,495,499; median age 28.3 years). Of the women, 118,212 (7.9%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and 29,630 (2.0%) severely obese (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2). After a follow-up of median 16.3 years, we identified 3295 and 4375 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ischemic stroke (IS) corresponding to 13.4 and 17.8 per 100,000 observation years, respectively, occurring at mean ages of 49.8 and 47.3 years. Compared to women with a BMI 20-<22.5 kg/m2, the hazard ratio (HR) of AMI increased with higher BMI from 1.40 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-1.54) among women with BMI 22.5-<25.0 kg/m2 to 4.71 (95% CI 3.88-5.72) among women with severe obesity, with similar findings for IS and CVD death, after adjustment for age, pregnancy year, parity and comorbidities at baseline. Women with BMI 30-<35.0 and ≥35 kg/m2 had increased all-cause mortality with adjusted HR 1.53 (95% CI 1.43-1.63) and 1.83 (95% CI 1.63-2.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: A significant increase in the risk for early AMI, IS and CVD death was noticeable in overweight young women, with a marked increase in obese women.

Country of birth and mortality risk in hypertension with and without diabetes: the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertension and diabetes are common and are both associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate associations between mortality risk and country of birth among hypertensive individuals in primary care with and without concomitant diabetes, which has not been studied previously. In addition, we aimed to study the corresponding risks of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. METHODS: This observational cohort study of 62 557 individuals with hypertension diagnosed 2001-2008 in the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database assessed mortality by the Swedish Cause of Death Register, and myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke by the National Patient Register. Cox regression models were used to estimate study outcome hazard ratios by country of birth and time updated diabetes status, with adjustments for multiple confounders. RESULTS: During follow-up time without diabetes using Swedish-born as reference, adjusted mortality hazard ratios per country of birth category were Finland: 1.26 (95% confidence interval 1.15-1.38), high-income European countries: 0.84 (0.74-0.95), low-income European countries: 0.84 (0.71-1.00) and non-European countries: 0.65 (0.56-0.76). The corresponding adjusted mortality hazard ratios during follow-up time with diabetes were high-income European countries: 0.78 (0.63-0.98), low-income European countries: 0.74 (0.57-0.96) and non-European countries: 0.56 (0.44-0.71). During follow-up without diabetes, the corresponding adjusted hazard ratio of myocardial infarction was increased for Finland: 1.16 (1.01-1.34), whereas the results for ischemic stroke were inconclusive. CONCLUSION: In Sweden, hypertensive immigrants (with the exception for Finnish-born) with and without diabetes have a mortality advantage, as compared to Swedish-born.

Blood pressure levels and risk of haemorrhagic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and oral anticoagulants: results from The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database of Skaraborg.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of haemorrhagic stroke at different baseline SBP levels in a primary care population with hypertension, atrial fibrillation and newly initiated oral anticoagulants (OACs). METHODS: We identified 3972 patients with hypertension, atrial fibrillation and newly initiated OAC in The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database of Skaraborg. Patients were followed from 1 January 2006 until a first event of haemorrhagic stroke, death, cessation of OAC or 31 December 2016. We analysed the association between continuous SBP and haemorrhagic stroke with a multivariable Cox regression model and plotted the hazard ratio as a function of SBP with a restricted cubic spline with 130 mmHg as reference. RESULTS: There were 40 cases of haemorrhagic stroke during follow-up. Baseline SBP in the 145-180 mmHg range was associated with a more than doubled risk of haemorrhagic stroke, compared with a SBP of 130 mmHg. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of primary care patients with hypertension and atrial fibrillation, we found that baseline SBP in the 145-180 mmHg range, prior to initiation of OAC, was associated with a more than doubled risk of haemorrhagic stroke, as compared with an SBP of 130 mmHg. This suggests that lowering SBP to below 145 mmHg, prior to initiation of OAC, may decrease the risk of haemorrhagic stroke in patients with hypertension and atrial fibrillation.