Long-term trajectory of renal dysfunction and related risk factors in patients with apparently treatment-resistant and non-resistant arterial hypertension.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that renal function increasingly deteriorates in patients with apparently treatment-resistant hypertension (ATRH) in comparison with those who have non-resistant arterial hypertension (NAH). We aimed to assess the long-term decline in renal function between these patient groups and identify specific risk factors contributing to the progression of renal dysfunction. Methods: Data for 265 patients with ATRH and NAH in a hypertension excellence centre were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, laboratory findings, secondary causes of hypertension, medication and exposure to contrast agents were assessed. To address differences between groups, adjustment with linear mixed-effect models was used. Results: Data from the first 4 years of follow-up were evaluated. After adjustment for age and diabetes, which were identified as independent risk factors for renal dysfunction progression in the study cohort, the mean decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate per year was steeper with ATRH than with NAH (-1.49 vs. -0.65 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year; difference in slope, 0.83 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25-1.41, p = 0.005). In subgroup analyses, without Holm-Bonferroni correction, the prescription of MRA indicated a faster decline in renal function in ATRH. Following correction, no specific therapeutic risk factor was associated with faster progression of renal dysfunction. Conclusions: Renal function declines twice as fast with ATRH compared with NAH, independently of age and diabetes. Larger studies are needed to reveal risk factors for renal dysfunction in patients with hypertension.

High blood pressure (arterial hypertension) is a significant risk factor for kidney function decline. Resistant hypertension represents a subtype of hypertension that is difficult to treat and requires multiple antihypertensive agents to achieve effective blood pressure control. Recent research suggests that individuals with resistant hypertension are at greater risk of kidney dysfunction.This study analyses data from adult patients with arterial hypertension and resistant hypertension followed-up for a mean duration of 6.4 years.A faster decline in kidney function was observed in patients with resistant hypertension. This suggests that renal function in these patients should be closely monitored.After statistical evaluation, no medication was found to be associated with an increased risk of kidney failure progression. However, two specific medications, spironolactone and eplerenone, raised suspicion and require further exploration in larger prospective studies.

Effect of sertraline in paroxysmal hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Paroxysmal hypertension or pseudopheochromocytoma is quite a common problem in clinical practice. The optimal treatment for this condition has not been established. This study sought to investigate whether sertraline (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) reduces the symptoms. METHODS: We enrolled 64 patients referred to our department between April 2008 and October 2014 for symptomatic paroxysmal hypertension. Patients received sertraline, 50 mg once daily, in addition to their current medication. The effect of the treatment was assessed during their next clinical visit at least 3 months later. RESULTS: Of the 64 patients, 57 (89%) also had sustained arterial hypertension. Mean office baseline blood pressure (BP) was 147.6/83.8 mmHg and patients used a mean of 3.1 antihypertensive drugs. Five patients did not start using sertraline and three were lost to follow-up. Of the 56 patients who started using sertraline and who came for check up, clinical improvement was observed in 42 (75%) patients - symptoms of paroxysmal hypertension fully subsided in 28 (50%) and were partially reduced in 14 (25%) . Side effects or intolerance leading to discontinuation of treatment occurred in 7 patients (12.5%). Mean office BP in patients using sertraline decreased by 12.8/7.4 mmHg (P<0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Sertraline effectively removed or reduced symptoms of paroxysmal hypertension in the majority of patients who used this treatment.

Ambulatory screening for obstructive sleep apnea in patients with resistant arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common causes of secondary arterial hypertension. It is important to rule out OSA as a cause of resistant hypertension. The ApneaLink device is a simple and cost-efficient outpatient examination, but its usefulness in screening OSA in resistant hypertension has not yet been evaluated. METHODS: A total of 69 patients with resistant arterial hypertension were enrolled. Patients underwent a physical examination, including the use of ApneaLink, followed by respiratory polygraphy. The presence of OSA was assessed by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), mean nocturnal desaturation (SpO2), and percentage of sleep time with SpO2 less than 90%. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the values of AHI found during the use of ApneaLink and respiratory polygraphy (mean 30.4 ± 21.7 vs. 37.2 ± 20.9, P = 0.07). ApneaLink had 77.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity to diagnose OSA with the area under the ROC curve 0.866 (P < 0.001). We also found no significant difference in mean SpO2 (91.3 ± 2.5 vs. 90.9 ± 3.3%, P = 0.22). The ODI evaluated via ApneaLink was significantly lower than by the polygraphy (31.1 ± 18.3 vs. 43.9 ± 24.8, P < 0.001), while the measured percentage of sleep time with SpO2 less than 90% was higher (31.8 ± 23.7 vs. 23.3 ± 24.4, P = 0.001). The severity of OSA was correctly determined by ApneaLink in 50.7% of patients, underestimated in 23.2% and overestimated in 26.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ApneaLink is a suitable method for screening the presence of OSA in patients with resistant hypertension, but to accurately assess the severity of OSA, respiratory polygraphy or polysomnography is required.

Heart rate is a useful marker of adherence to beta-blocker treatment in hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: Suboptimal medication adherence is common among patients with hypertension. Measurements of plasma or urinary levels of antihypertensive drugs are useful, but not widely available. The aim of our study was to investigate the relation of patients' heart rates to their serum beta-blocker levels. METHODS: We correlated 220 measurements of serum beta-blocker levels in 106 patients with apparently resistant hypertension to their corresponding office heart rate. A significant proportion, 44.6% of patients, were non-adherent to beta-blocker treatment according to serum level measurement. Non-adherent patients had significantly higher heart rates (80.9 vs. 66.6 bpm, p < .001), systolic (157.4 vs. 147.0 mm Hg, p = .002) and diastolic blood pressure (91.1 vs. 87.2 mm Hg, p = .041) in comparison to adherent patients. RESULTS: Heart rate above 75.5 beats per minute predicted non-adherence to beta-blocker treatment with a sensitivity of 62.5%, specificity 86.8% and AUC ROC 0.802 (p < .001). Higher heart rate cutoff might be applicable for nebivolol but was not determined due to the low number of patients treated with nebivolol. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that heart rate was shown to be a good predictor of non-adherence to beta-blocker treatment, and might become a quick and easy measure to determine patient adherence in hypertensive patients.

[Beta-blockers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Betablokátory a chronická obstrukcní plicní nemoc.

This general article discusses the problems of beta-blockers use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its aim is to refute exaggerated concerns of physicians over possible undesirable effects of beta-blockers on the patient respiratory functions and present new data on the effects of beta-blockers on the extent of COPD exacerbations, bronchial reactivity and mortality of patients.

[Research of relations among sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnoea, hypertension onset and hypertensive treatment - current or long-term trend?]. / Studium souvislostí poruch spánku, obstrukcní spánkové apnoe a vzniku a lécby arteriální hypertenze - módní vlna nebo dlouhodobý trend?

This paper is discussing recent findings about links between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and arterial hypertension. It describes diagnostic approaches and also therapy of patients. It is describing options of pharmacological treatment and the influence of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on blood pressure level.

The effect of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on the prevalence of masked hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common cause of secondary arterial hypertension. Masked hypertension (MH) is defined as normal office blood pressure and abnormal results in 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CPAP therapy on the prevalence of MH in patients with OSA. METHODS: 43 patients (40 men) were included, average age 54.2±10.5 years. All underwent sleep study (PG or PSG) with a diagnosis of OSA indicated for CPAP treatment, average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 60.6±23.6. Patients were treated with CPAP for one year. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed before and after one year of treatment. RESULTS: Masked hypertension was initially present in 25 (58.1%) and in 26 (60.5%) patients after one year of CPAP therapy. However, there was a statistically significant improvement in BP for all evaluated intervals of ABPM with the exception of systolic pressure during the daytime. CONCLUSIONS: Masked hypertension was very prevalent in these patients with OSA. The CPAP treatment for one year however had no affect on prevalence of masked hypertension although there was a positive effect of CPAP treatment on blood pressure for all assessed intervals of ABPM with the exception of systolic BP during daytime.