Effectiveness of low-dose diuretics for blood pressure reduction to optimal values in prehypertension: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To determine the effectiveness of low-dose diuretic therapy to achieve an optimal level of blood pressure (BP) in adults with prehypertension. METHODS: The PREVER-prevention trial was a randomized, parallel, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, with 18 months of follow-up, conducted at 21 academic medical centers in Brazil. Of 1772 individuals evaluated for eligibility, 730 volunteers with prehypertension who were aged 30-70 years, and who did not reach optimal blood pressure after 3 months of lifestyle intervention, were randomized to a fixed association of chlorthalidone 12.5 mg and amiloride 2.5 mg or placebo once a day. The main outcomes were the percentage of participants who achieved an optimal level of BP. RESULTS: A total of 372 participants were randomly allocated to diuretics and 358 to placebo. After 18 months of treatment, optimal BP was noted in 25.6% of the diuretic group and 19.3% in the placebo group (P < 0.05). The mean net reduction in SBP and DBP for the diuretic group compared with placebo was 2.8 mmHg (95% CI 1.1 to 4.5) and 1.1 mmHg (95% CI -0.09 to 2.4), respectively. Most participants in the active treatment group (74.5%) and in the placebo group (80.7%) continued to have BP in the prehypertension range or progressed to hypertension. CONCLUSION: Low-dose diuretic therapy increased the probability of individuals with prehypertension to achieve optimal BP but most of those treated continued to have a BP in the prehypertension range or progressed to having overt hypertension.

Effectiveness of Chlorthalidone Plus Amiloride for the Prevention of Hypertension: The PREVER-Prevention Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Prehypertension is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, target organ damage, and incidence of hypertension. The Prevention of Hypertension in Patients with PreHypertension (PREVER-Prevention) trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a low-dose diuretic for the prevention of hypertension and end-organ damage. METHODS AND RESULTS: This randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 21 Brazilian academic medical centers. Participants with prehypertension who were aged 30 to 70 years and who did not reach optimal blood pressure after 3 months of lifestyle intervention were randomized to a chlorthalidone/amiloride combination pill or placebo and were evaluated every 3 months during 18 months of treatment. The primary outcome was incidence of hypertension. Development or worsening of microalbuminuria, new-onset diabetes mellitus, and reduction of left ventricular mass were secondary outcomes. Participant characteristics were evenly distributed by trial arms. The incidence of hypertension was significantly lower in 372 study participants allocated to diuretics compared with 358 allocated to placebo (hazard ratio 0.56, 95% CI 0.38-0.82), resulting in a cumulative incidence of 11.7% in the diuretic arm versus 19.5% in the placebo arm (P=0.004). Adverse events; levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, creatinine, and microalbuminuria; and incidence of diabetes mellitus were no different between the 2 arms. Left ventricular mass assessed through Sokolow-Lyon voltage and voltage-duration product decreased to a greater extent in participants allocated to diuretic therapy compared with placebo (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of low-dose chlorthalidone and amiloride effectively reduces the risk of incident hypertension and beneficially affects left ventricular mass in patients with prehypertension. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, www.ensaiosclinicos.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT00970931, RBR-74rr6s.

Effectiveness of chlorthalidone/amiloride versus losartan in patients with stage I hypertension: results from the PREVER-treatment randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the blood pressure (BP)-lowering efficacy of a chlorthalidone/amiloride combination pill with losartan, during initial management of stage I hypertension. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 655 participants were followed for 18 months in 21 Brazilian academic centers. Trial participants were adult volunteers aged 30-70 years with stage I hypertension (BP 140-159 or 90-99 mmHg) following 3 months of a lifestyle intervention. Participants were randomized to 12.5/2.5 mg of chlorthalidone/amiloride (N = 333) or 50 mg of losartan (N = 322). If BP remained uncontrolled after 3 months, study medication dose was doubled, and if uncontrolled after 6 months, amlodipine (5 and 10 mg) and propranolol (40 and 80 mg twice daily) were added as open-label drugs in a progressive fashion. At the end of follow-up, 609 (93%) participants were evaluated. RESULTS: The difference in SBP during 18 months of follow-up was 2.3 (95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 3.3) mmHg favoring chlorthalidone/amiloride. Compared with those randomized to diuretic, more participants allocated to losartan had their initial dose doubled and more of them used add-on antihypertensive medication. Levels of blood glucose, glycosilated hemoglobin, and incidence of diabetes were no different between the two treatment groups. Serum potassium was lower and serum cholesterol was higher in the diuretic arm. Microalbuminuria tended to be higher in patients with diabetes allocated to losartan (28.5 ±â€Š40.4 versus 16.2 ±â€Š26.7 mg, P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Treatment with a combination of chlorthalidone and amiloride compared with losartan yielded a greater reduction in BP. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00971165.

Prevalência de hipertensão arterial e fatores de risco em remanescentes de quilombos, Mato Grosso, Brasil / Prevalence of arterial hypertension and risk factors in quilombos remnants in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil

A hipertensão arterial, importante problema de saúde pública, apresenta elevada prevalência e gravidade em negros, sendo escassos os estudos brasileiros sob o tema. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a prevalência de hipertensão e fatores associados em uma população rural de remanescentes de quilombos no estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. Estudo observacional, de corte transversal, realizado em 2012, abrangendo todos os adultos ≥ 18 anos residentes no quilombos rural de Mata Cavalo, município de Nossa Senhora do Livramento. Foram obtidos dados demográficos, socioeconômicos, de hábitos de vida, medidas antropométricas e da pressão arterial. A hipertensão foi definida pelo critério ≥ 140/90 mmHg, ou uso de medicação anti-hipertensiva. A relação entre variáveis independentes e hipertensão foi avaliada pela razão de prevalência com respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% e nível de significância de p ≤ 0,05. A análise de 81,5% da população de estudo, 49% do sexo feminino, média de idade de 51,8 (± 17,7) anos revelou baixos índices de renda e escolaridade. A prevalência de hipertensão arterial foi de 52,5%, com discreto e não significativo predomínio em mulheres. Observou-se associação significativa entre hipertensão e idade, sedentarismo no trabalho, presença de história familiar para hipertensão, circunferência da cintura aumentada e relação cintura-quadril em faixa de risco. Em face da elevada prevalência de hipertensão observada em comunidade quilombola de Mato Grosso, Brasil, associada a fatores de risco bem conhecidos, o presente estudo chama a atenção para a necessidade da execução de políticas de saúde pública mais abrangentes, com o objetivo de atingir segmentos sociais específicos.

The hypertension, an important public health problem, presents a high prevalence and severity in blacks, being scarce Brazilian studies on the subject. The objective of the study was to analyze the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors in a rural population of remnants of the quilombos in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is an observational study, cross-sectional, conducted in 2012, covering all adults ≥ 18 years residing in rural quilombo Mata Cavalo, municipality of Nossa Senhora do Livramento. Were obtained demographic and socioeconomic data, lifestyle habits, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure. Hypertension was defined by criterion ≥ 140/90 mmHg, or use of antihypertensive medication. The relationship between independent variables and hypertension was presented by prevalence ratio with their respective 95% confidence intervals and significance level of p ≤ 0.05. The analysis of 81.5% of the study population, 49% female, mean age of 51.8 (±17.7) years revealed low levels of income and education. Theprevalence of hypertension was 52.5%, with a slight but not significant predominance in women. There was a significant association between hypertension and age, sedentary at work, presence of family history of hypertension, waist circumference increased and waist-hip ratio in risk range. In view of the high prevalence of hypertension observed in the quilombola community of Mato Grosso, Brazil, associated with the well-known risk factors, the present study draws attention to the need for the implementation of more comprehensive public health policies, with the objective of achieving specific social segments.

Emergências hipertensivas e uso de drogas ilícitas / Hypertensive emergencies and use of illicit drugs

A hipertensão arterial (HA) secundária a substâncias ou drogas lícitas e ilícitas é um tipo de hipertensão com uma causa subjacente, potencialmente reversível. As drogas ilícitas podem interferir com os efeitos dos fármacos anti-hipertensivos, induzir emergências hipertensivas, precipitar eventos cardiovasculares e outras comorbidades. As principais drogas ilícitas associadas à hipertensão são: cocaína, crack, anfetaminas e seus derivados, como o ecstasy (MDMA). No Brasil, o consumo e o abuso de drogas vêm aumentando nos últimos anos, tornando-se um problema de saúde pública que atinge, em especial, adolescentes e adultos jovens, com grande impacto social e econômico para as famílias, no trabalho e no sistema de saúde. As emergências hipertensivas secundárias a drogas ilícitas podem ocorrer em indivíduos normotensos, hipertensos crônicos, resistentes, ou com lesões em órgãos-alvo preexistentes, as mais críticas. Os picos hipertensivos causados pela intensa ação simpaticomimética do abuso de drogas ilícitas são as principais causas da maioria das emergências e suas complicações. Na maioria das vezes, a reversão é obtida com a suspensão da droga ilícita, mas, em alguns casos, é necessária terapêutica endovenosa imediata, eficiente e individualizada, em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Este artigo revisa os aspectos epidemiológicos, fisiopatológicos, clínicos e terapêuticos das emergências hipertensivas e uso de drogas ilícitas, com destaque para as crises adrenérgicas, as metas pressóricas, os principais fármacos, suas ações e reações adversas.

Hypertension caused by substances or licit and illicit drugs is a type of hypertension with an underlying potentially correctable cause. Illicit drugs can interfere with the effects of antihypertensive drugs, induce hypertensive emergencies and may precipitate cardiovascular events and other co-morbidities. The main illicit drugs associated with hypertension are: cocaine, crack, amphetamines and derivatives, such as ecstasy (MDMA). In Brazil, the use and abuse of drugs have been increasing in recent years, becoming a public health problem that affects, in particular, adolescents and young adults, with major social and economic impact on families, at work and in the system health. Hypertensive crises secondary to illicit drugs may occur in normotensive, chronic hypertensive, resistant individuals, or those with pre-existing lesions in target organs, the most critical ones. The pressure peaks caused by the intense sympathomimetic action of the abuse of illicit drugs are the main causes of most emergencies and their complications. Most often, the reversal is obtained by removing of the illicit drug, but in some cases it is necessary immediate, efficient and individualized intravenous therapy in the Intensive Care Unit. This article reviews the epidemiological, pathophysiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hypertensive emergencies and the use of illicit drugs, especially adrenergic crises, blood pressure goals, the major drugs, their actions and adverse effects.

Prevalência e fatores associados à hipertensão arterial em idosos de municípios da Amazônia Legal, MT / Prevalence and factors associated with hypertension in the elderly from municipalities in the Legal Amazon region, MT, Brazil

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as características epidemiológicas da hipertensão arterial e os fatores associados na população idosa residente nos municípios da Amazônia Legal no Estado de Mato Grosso - Alta Floresta, Sinop, Sorriso e Diamantino. Trata-se de estudo transversal, de base populacional, realizado por meio de inquérito domiciliar com 312 idosos. A amostra da pesquisa foi obtida por amostragem complexa. Consideraram-se hipertensos aqueles que apresentaram pressão arterial >140/90mmHg e/ou que referiram uso de medicação anti-hipertensiva. A análise de regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para testar a associação entre a hipertensão e as variáveis independentes. A prevalência da hipertensão foi de 67,4%. As variáveis associadas à hipertensão nos homens foram situação conjugal (p=0,012) e índice de massa corporal (p=0,025). Já entre as mulheres, foram faixa etária (p=0,026), tabagismo (p=0,030) e índice de massa corporal (p=0,034). Entre os idosos, observou-se que 78,3% tinham conhecimento de sua condição de hipertenso; destes, 97,7% estavam em tratamento. Entre os que estavam em tratamento, apenas 43,7% apresentavam sua pressão arterial controlada. A alta prevalência da hipertensão, a associação a fatores de risco cardiovascular, assim como o baixo percentual de idosos com pressão arterial controlada, reforçam a necessidade de implementar políticas públicas, visando a ações de prevenção, controle e promoção da saúde da população idosa.

This paper aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hypertension and associated factors in an elderly population living in municipalities of the Legal Amazon region in Mato Grosso state, Brazil - Alta Floresta, Sinop, Sorriso and Diamantino. Cross-sectional, population-based study, conducted through a household survey with 312 elderly. The survey sample was obtained by simple sampling and cluster in stages. The individuals who had > 140/90 mmHg and / or reported use of antihypertensive medication were considered hypertensive. Poisson regression analysis was used to test the association between hypertension and the independent variables. The prevalence of hypertension was 67.4%. The variables were associated with hypertension in males were marital status (p=0.012) and body mass index (p=0.025). Among females, were age (p= 0.026), smoking (p=0.030) and body mass index (p=0.034). Among the elderly, 78.3% were aware of their condition, and among these, 97.9% underwent treatment. But among those who were treated only 43.7% had their blood pressure controlled. The high prevalence of hypertension and its association with cardiovascular risk factors, as well as the percentage of elderly with controlled blood pressure, reinforce the need for implementation of public policies aimed at prevention, control and promotion of health in the elderly population.

A curva J no idoso / The J curve in the elderly

Existem evidências suficientes de que a hipertensão não controlada aumenta a morbidade cardiovascular e de que baixar a pressão arterial pode reduzir tal evento. O "quanto mais baixa melhor" tem sido um conceito para a maioria dos médicos nos últimos 30 anos. Este artigo abordou criticamente o "paradoxo da curva J", indicando que a redução da pressão arterial sistólica abaixo de 120 ou 125 mmHg e a pressão arterial diastólica abaixo de 70 ou 75 mmHg são caracterizadas pelo aumento, ao invés de redução, de eventos coronários. Esses aspectos são relevantes em pacientes idosos, nos quais a presença de doença arterial coronária requer cuidados especiais em baixar a pressão arterial. Foram destacadas algumas questões: o contexto histórico do fenômeno da "curva J" e os ensaios clínicos a favor ou contra a existência da "curva J "em pacientes hipertensos.

There are enough evidences that uncontroled hypertension increases cardiovascular morbidity and that lowering elevated blood pressures can reduce this event. "Lower the better" has been a concept most of the physicians over the last 30 years. This paper critically addressed the issue of the "J curve" paradox ­ the finding indicating that treatment-induced systolic blood pressure values below 120 or 125 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure values below 75 or 70 mmHg are characterized by an increase, rather than a reduction, in the incidence of coronary events. These aspects are relevant in elderly patients, in whom the presence of coronary artery disease requires special care in lower blood pressure. Some subjects were highlighted: the historical background of a "J-curve" and clinical trials for or against the existence of a "J curve" in hypertensive patients.