Association of alcohol consumption with hypertension or prehypertension in Chinese adolescent: A cohort study of the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

This study was conducted to investigate the association between alcohol consumption in adolescence and the risk of hypertension or prehypertension development in early adulthood. This cohort study included adolescent participants aged 12-18 years from the 2000-2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Cox proportional risk regression models were used to analyze the associations of the frequency of alcohol consumption, alcohol intake, and type of alcohol with the risk of developing hypertension or prehypertension. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to assess the dose-response relationships for alcohol intake and their hazard ratios (HRs). A total of 1556 participants were included in the final analysis. Among the overall population, 448 (30.81%) and 35 (34.31%) participants developed hypertension or prehypertension, respectively. Compared with no alcohol consumption, alcohol consumption ≥ 2 times/week and consumption of ≥2 types of alcohol were associated with an increased risk of hypertension and prehypertension, with HRs of 1.97 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-3.34; p = 0.011) and 1.77 (95% CI 1.01-3.09; p = 0.046), respectively. Alcohol intake of > 96 mL/week was associated with an increased risk of hypertension and prehypertension, with HRs of 2.09 (95% CI 1.12-3.90; p = 0.020) and 2.07 (95% CI 1.11-3.84; p = 0.021), respectively. The restricted cubic spline analysis showed that the risk of developing high blood pressure or prehypertension tends to increase with increasing alcohol consumption. Heavy alcohol consumption in adolescence increased the risk of developing hypertension and prehypertension in early adulthood.

Association between late pregnancy prehypertension and adverse outcomes among newborns of women delivered at a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prehypertension during pregnancy is currently not considered as a high-risk pregnancy state in existing guidelines despite recent research correlating it with higher rates of morbidity and mortality in both the mother and the fetus. Studies on prehypertension have not been conducted in Africa despite high rates of poor neonatal outcomes. AIMS: The study aimed to determine the association between late pregnancy prehypertension and adverse outcomes in newborns of women with late pregnancy prehypertension at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between September 2022 and January 2023, a hospital-based prospective cohort study including 300 pregnant women was conducted. Participants were divided according to third-trimester blood pressure, as determined by the JNC-8 criteria. Following hospital admission for labor and delivery, 150 normotensive women and 150 prehypertensive women were identified and followed until delivery, and their neonates were followed until death or hospital discharge. A p value of ≤ 0.05 was the threshold for statistical significance when comparing the groups using the relative risk, X2, and Mantel-Haenszel adjustment. RESULTS: Composite adverse neonatal outcomes were more common in prehypertensive women compared to normotensive women (48.67% versus 32.67%), particularly Small-for-Gestation Age (SGA), stillbirth, and composite adverse neonatal outcomes had significantly higher likelihood, with aRRs of 1.63 (95% CI 1.10-2.42, p = 0.037), 9.0 (95% CI 1.15-70.16, p = 0.010), and 1.55 (95% CI 1.16-2.08, p < 0.001), respectively. By a linear model, birthweight decreased by 45.1 g for every 10 mmHg rise in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.041, Pearson correlation of -0.118). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Prehypertension in late pregnancy increased risks for adverse neonatal outcomes, thus a need to potentially lower pregnancy hypertension cut-off levels possibly through adopting the ACC/AHA blood pressure definitions for pregnant women.

Prehypertension in male affects both semen quality and pregnancy outcomes in their first single blastocyst frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether prehypertension (Pre-HTN) in male affects semen quality and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University-affiliated reproductive medicine center in Beijing, China. PATIENTS: Clinical data were collected from 1043 couples undergoing their first single blastocyst frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. INTERVENTIONS: According to the blood pressure (BP, 1mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in male, including systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the subjects were divided into the Control group (90 ≤ SBP < 120 mmHg and 60 ≤ DBP < 80 mmHg, n = 611) and the Pre-HTN group (120 ≤ SBP < 140 mmHg and/or 80 ≤ DBP < 90 mmHg, n = 432). The association between Pre-HTN and semen quality, and ART outcomes was then evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome: live birth rate (LBR). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: semen quality, laboratory embryo outcomes, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), biochemical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and other pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with the Control group, the Pre-HTN group showed lower total sperm motility, total sperm count, sperm progressive motility, progressive sperm count (P < .05), and higher prevalence of oligozoospermia (17.6% vs. 13.1%, P = .045), and asthenozoospermia (37.7% vs. 19.8%, P < .001). Meanwhile, compared with the Control group, the Pre-HTN group had a lower CPR (42.8% vs. 57.6%, P < .001) and a lower LBR (32.9% vs. 47.3%, P < .001). There were no differences in the remaining parameters of semen quality, laboratory embryo outcomes (except for the proportion of ICSI), and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups. Additionally, regression analysis showed that Pre-HTN in male was an independent risk factor for clinical pregnancy (adjusted OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44-0.74, P < .001) and live birth (adjusted OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.44-0.75, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-HTN in male not only results in lower semen quality, but also has negative consequences on the success of ART. It is an independent risk factor for clinical pregnancy and live birth in the first single blastocyst FET cycles.

Puerarin Alleviates Blood Pressure via Inhibition of ROS/TLR4/NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus of Salt-Induced Prehypertensive Rats.

BACKGROUND: Puerarin is an isoflavone compound isolated from the roots of a leguminous plant, the wild kudzu. Various functional activities of this compound in multiple diseases have been reported. However, the effect and mechanism of puerarin in improving blood pressure remain non-elucidated. PURPOSE: The current study was designed to assess the preventive effects of puerarin on the onset and progression of hypertension and to verify the hypothesis that puerarin alleviates blood pressure by inhibiting the ROS/TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of salt-induced prehypertensive rats. METHODS: Male Dahl salt-sensitive rats were fed low NaCl salt (3% in drinking water) for the control (NS) group or 8% (HS) to induce prehypertension. Each batch was divided into two group and treated by bilateral PVN microinjection with either artificial cerebrospinal fluid or puerarin through a micro-osmotic pump for 6 weeks. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded, and samples were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: We concluded that puerarin significantly prevented the elevation of blood pressure and effectively alleviated the increase in heart rate caused by high salt. Norepinephrine (NE) in the plasma of salt-induced prehypertensive rats also decreased upon puerarin chronic infusion. Additionally, analysis of the PVN sample revealed that puerarin pretreatment decreased the positive cells and gene level of TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4), NLRP3, Caspase-1 p10, NOX2, MyD88, NOX4, and proinflammatory cytokines in the PVN. Puerarin pretreatment also decreased NF-κBp65 activity, inhibited oxidative stress, and alleviated inflammatory responses in the PVN. CONCLUSION: We conclude that puerarin alleviated blood pressure via inhibition of the ROS/TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in the PVN, suggesting the therapeutic potential of puerarin in the prevention of hypertension.

Design and rationale for a randomized, open-label, parallel clinical trial evaluating major adverse cardiovascular events (pharmacological treatment versus diet control) in patients with high-normal blood pressure: the PRINT-TAHA9 trial.

BACKGROUND: The distinction between normal and high blood pressure remains a debated topic, with varying guidelines on when to start medication. Contemporary guidelines advocate for the initiation of antihypertensive therapy in individuals who present with high-normal blood pressure, particularly those exhibiting elevated 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores. Despite these recommendations, there is a notable lack of direct evidence supporting the efficacy of treating high-normal blood pressure to prevent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). METHODS: The PRINT-TAHA9 trial, a unicentric, randomized, open-label, controlled, parallel clinical study, seeks to explore the effects of intensive blood pressure control on MACE in participants with high-normal blood pressure. We will enroll 1620 adults aged 18 years and above with a systolic blood pressure range of 130-140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure under 90 mmHg, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score exceeding 7.5%. The study will be executed in five distinct phases, with each phase enrolling between 300 and 400 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the treatment group receiving antihypertensive medication (amlodipine/valsartan) and a low-salt/low-fat diet or to the control group receiving a similar diet. Follow-up visits are scheduled every 6 months over a 3-year period to monitor blood pressure, evaluate medication adherence, document any adverse events, and adjust the intervention as necessary. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis will be employed to examine the disparities between the two arms. DISCUSSION: Despite guidelines promoting early treatment of elevated blood pressure, the debate continues due to insufficient evidence that such interventions significantly reduce the occurrence of MACE. This trial seeks to address this critical evidence gap. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The PRINT-TAHA9 trial was registered in October 2019 with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT.ir) under the registration number IRCT20191002044961N1. https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/43092 .

Elevated blood pressure and hyperuricemia risk: a retrospective cohort study from Wuhu, China.

Although the relationship between hypertension and hyperuricemia is widely recognized, there is still a relative lack of research on prehypertensive individuals and the individual associations of systolic and diastolic blood pressure with the risk of hyperuricemia. From 2011 to 2016, we conducted a study on 53,323 individuals at Wuhu City Hospital in China. Based on initial blood pressure readings, participants were categorized into normal, prehypertension, or hypertension groups. We used Cox regression to analyze the associations with baseline factors. In subgroup analyses, systolic and diastolic pressures were treated as continuous variables, and their relationship with the risk of hyperuricemia was examined using restricted cubic spline analysis. The risk increased in the prehypertension and hypertension groups compared to the normal blood pressure group, with hazard ratios of 1.192 and 1.350, respectively. For each unit increase in blood pressure, the risk of hyperuricemia rose by 0.8% (systolic) and 0.9% (diastolic), especially when blood pressure levels exceeded 115/78 mmHg. Additionally, we observed that factors such as gender, alcohol consumption habits, obesity, and dyslipidemia might further influence this association. These findings emphasize the importance of early risk assessment and intervention in these patient populations in clinical practice.

Prevalence of Prehypertension, Hypertension, and its Determinants Among Young Adults in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Background: Emerging epidemiological data suggest that Hypertension (HTN) has become a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. HTN in young adults is a problem lacking relevant attention because it is still erroneously considered a disease of the old. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in undergraduate medical students at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between March and April 2021. This study recruited 279 consenting medical students (136 males and 143 females) aged 18-35 years. They were administered with a structured questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic information and risk factors for hypertension were collected. Blood pressure, waist circumference, weight, height, and body mass index were measured using standard methods. All data collected were carried out following the Institutional ethical guidelines and that of the Helsinki as revised in 2000. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25, and statistical tools employed include descriptive statistics and Chi tests. Results were recorded as mean standard deviation, and statistical significance was taken at p<0.05. Results: This present study has shown a prevalence rate of 19.93% for hypertension. Isolated diastolic hypertension constituted a greater burden with a prevalence of 13.65% than systolic Hypertension (0.74%) and systolic-diastolic Hypertension 5.4%. The prevalence of prehypertension was 48.7%, with a higher incidence observed in females (25.8%), individuals aged 21-25 years (26.4), and those with normal BMI (35.1%). A significant association was observed between the stage of hypertension and gender (p = 0.005), and age category (p = 0.037). Of the examined cohort, 7.75% were underweight, 16.5% overweight, and 2.2% obese. Notably, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure, weight, as well as waist circumference showed significant (p = 0.01, p = 0.007, p =0.01 and p<0.0001 respectively) increases concomitant with advancing age. Conclusion: There is an increased prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among young adults. This calls for a comprehensive national screening, public enlightenment, and targeted prevention programs that foster healthy lifestyle behaviours, physical activity, and healthy eating among students.

Serum γ-glutamyltransferase levels and obesity status changes the risk of prehypertension in Chinese adults.

Objective: It's well known that γ-Glutamyltransferase (γ-GGT) and obesity plays an important role in the development of preHT. However, the effect of γ-GGT on preHT in populations with different obesity status remains unclear. Methods: From February 2014 to January 2018, a total of 20,368 participants were enrolled in this study after excluding those with hypertension and liver diseases. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure γ-GGT and blood lipid levels and glucose indices. Demographic and clinical parameters such as sex, age, height, weight, neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and body fat ratio (BFR); and information on smoking and alcohol consumption were collected by trained medical professionals. Results: Participants were divided into three groups based on obesity status. The prevalence of preHT was 83.5 % in the obesity group was higher than that in the overweight group (58.9 %) and the normal group (47.1 %). γ-GGT in different categories of obesity indices were significantly different, and higher obesity indices were found with higher γ-GGT levels. The interaction of γ-GGT and obesity indices such as NC, WC, HC, and BFR on the prevalence of preHT was significant (P = 0.028, 0.002, 0.007, and 0.034, respectively). Serum γ-GGT was found to be positively associated with preHT in participants with normal and overweight body mass indices. Conclusion: Our results indicate that γ-GGT is a risk factor for preHT in participants who are nonobese, and that the obesity indices NC, WC, HC, BFR, and γ-GGT were contributing factors in increasing the risk of preHT.

Anaemia at mid-pregnancy is associated with prehypertension in late pregnancy among urban women.

Background: Antenatal iron deficiency and anaemia are associated with gestational hypertension and diabetes mellitus, but so are elevated iron stores and haemoglobin. In South Africa, pregnant women receive routine iron supplementation regardless of iron status. Aim: This study aimed to assess associations of antenatal iron status and anaemia with blood pressure in pregnant women in urban South Africa. Secondary to this, associations with heart rate, fasting glucose and glucose tolerance were also investigated. Setting: Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods: A total of 250 pregnant women, aged 27 (24-32) years, were recruited using consecutive sampling. The authors measured biomarkers of iron status and anaemia at < 18 and ± 22 weeks', blood pressure and heart rate at ± 36 weeks', and fasting glucose and glucose tolerance between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation. Associations were determined using multivariable regression models adjusted for confounders. Results: The odds of prehypertension in late pregnancy among women with anaemia at ± 22 weeks' gestation were three times higher than among women without anaemia (odds ratio [OR]: 3.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22, 7.42). Participants with anaemia at ± 22 weeks' gestation had 2.15 times higher odds of having elevated mean arterial pressure than women without anaemia (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.60). Conclusion: Anaemia at mid-pregnancy could be a predictor of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The cause of antenatal anaemia may need further investigation apart from iron deficiency. The effective management of anaemia in pregnant women living in urban South Africa remains a challenge. Contribution: This study provides evidence about the health impact of pregnant women regarding antenatal supplementation practices in South Africa.

Exercise Prescription in Individuals with Prehypertension and Hypertension: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension has been increasing over the years, and is closely related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Exercise is an effective method of lifestyle intervention, and it aims to lower blood pressure and control other risks. Studies have shown that different modes of exercise have varying effects on blood pressure, and individuals with prehypertension or hypertension need to carry out this intervention by using personalized modes of exercise. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of different modes of exercise regimens on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in individuals with high-normal blood pressure and hypertension. We included 27 trials, and 2731 individuals were under 8 exercise regimens. Stata12.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Heat pools significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 15.62 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI]: -23.83, -7.41), and cycling reduced SBP by 14.76 mmHg (-17.04, -12.48). Two to three types of aerobic exercise performed at the same time also significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 5.61 mmHg (-7.71, -3.52), and isometric handgrip training exercise reduced DBP by 5.57 mmHg (-7.48, -3.66). Cycling also significantly reduced heart rate (HR) by 9.57 beats/minute (-11.25, -7.90). Conclusions: The existing literature suggests that different types of exercise can effectively reduce the levels of SBP, DBP and HR in individuals with prehypertension or hypertension.

Systematic Development of an AI Chatbot for Physical Activity Habit Formation in Prehypertension Individual Integrating Needs, Theories, and Evidence.

Prehypertension, an early stage in the development of hypertension, impacts a substantial segment of the adult population worldwide. Addressing this issue, our study introduces HabitBot, an AI-driven chatbot tailored to encourage physical activity (PA) habits among individuals with prehypertension. HabitBot combines natural language processing with multidisciplinary approaches, drawing from both theoretical frameworks and empirical studies. The chatbot development followed a systematic, five-phase process: comprehensive needs assessment, literature review on behavior change theories, analysis for selecting effective behavior change techniques (BCTs), prototype design through intervention mapping, and refining the intervention based on user feedback. The outcome includes a prototype that integrates the Health Action Process Approach and Habit Formation Theory, utilizing twelve identified BCTs effective in fostering PA habits. User feedback further refined the chatbot across multiple dimensions such as user interface, content accessibility, and privacy. HabitBot exemplifies an innovative integration of behavior change strategies with advanced language model technology, paving the way for digital health interventions in chronic disease prevention. Future studies should assess its long-term efficacy in habit formation and explore its applicability to various demographic groups.

Arterial stiffness is associated with prehypertension in both non-hypertensives and treated hypertensives-A matched case control study.

BACKGROUND: Prehypertension (PHT) is a cardiovascular health risk defined by blood pressure (BP). Arterial stiffness (AS) provides beyond brachial BP inference on vascular ageing and pulse wave analysis (PWA) can measure it non-invasively.We compared association between AS and PHT using age and gender matched case-controls. METHODS: This is a sub analysis of previous PWA studies of hypertensives and non-hypertensives. Using oscillometric PWA by Mobil-o-Graph (IEM, Stolberg, Germany), parameters of AS (augmentation pressure and index, reflection magnitude, aortic pulse wave velocity, pulse pressure amplification), brachial hemodynamics (BH), and central hemodynamics (CH; aortic BP, cardiac output related parameters, stroke work) were derived. Age and gender matched case controls were compared as: 1) Nonhypertensives with BP at prehypertensive level (PHT) versus normotensives (NT) (n = 217 each), 2) Under treatment hypertensives with BP at prehypertensive level (PHT-T) versus untreated, nonhypertensives with BP at prehypertensive level (PHT-UT) (n = 74 each). RESULTS: PHTs had higher AS, BH and CH than NTs, with statistical significance for all but few parameters. PHT-T had comparable BH but higher AS, CH than PHT-UT with significance for few parameters. CONCLUSION: Pulse wave analysis derived arterial stiffness is associated with prehypertension compared to normal, after age and gender matching. In hypertensives, arterial stiffness is significantly higher despite being treated to prehypertension level as compared to control. It hints arterial stiffness to be better parameter than brachial BP to study prehypertension.

Causal role of immune cells in hypertension: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Although Hypertension (HTN) is considered to be a cardiovascular disease caused by multiple factors, the cause of it is still unknown. In this study, we aim to find out whether circulating immune cell characteristics have an impact on susceptibility to HTN. Methods: This study employed a comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal association between immune cell characteristics and HTN. Utilizing publicly accessible genetic data, we examined the causal relationship between HTN and the susceptibility to 731 immune cell signatures. To ensure the reliability and validity of the findings, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess heterogeneity, confirm the robustness of the results and evaluate the presence of horizontal pleiotropy. Results: After FDR correction, immune phenotype had an effect on HTN. In our study, one immunophenotype was identified as being positively associated with HTN risk significance: HLA DR on CD33- HLA DR+. In addition, we examined 8 immune phenotype with no statistically significant effect of HTN, but it is worth mentioning that they had an unadjusted low P-value phenotype. Conclusions: Our MR study by genetic means demonstrated the close relationship between HTN and immune cells, thus providing guidance for future clinical prediction and subsequent treatment of HTN.

The relationship between liver enzymes, prehypertension and hypertension in the Azar cohort population.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hypertension (HTN) as a worldwide health problem is rising rapidly. Early identification and management of pre-HTN before HTN development can help reduce its related complications. We evaluated the relationship between liver enzymes levels and pre-HTN/HTN in the Azar cohort population. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was based on data from the large Azar cohort study and a total of 14,184 participants were included. Pre-HTN and HTN were defined based on the American Heart Association guideline. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were measured by Pars Azmoon kits. The relationship between pre-HTN/HTN and liver enzyme levels was evaluated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 14,184 participants, 5.7% and 39.6% had pre-HTN and HTN, respectively. In the adjusted model, AST levels of 19-23 IU/l were associated with an elevated risk of pre-HTN (OR [95% CI]: 1.24 [1.04-1.48]). A dose-response increase was seen in pre-HTN in relation to ALT, with the highest OR in the third tertile (1.34 [1.09-1.63]). The odds of pre-HTN also increased with GGT in the third tertile (1.25[1.03-1.52]). In addition, the odds of HTN increased with increased levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT, such that the highest ORs were recorded in the third tertile (OR 1.22 [1.09-1.37], 1.51 [1.35-1.70], 1.19 [1.07-1.34], and 1.68 [1.49-1.89], respectively). Among these enzymes, GGT had the highest OR regarding HTN. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that AST, ALT, ALP and GGT levels were associated with pre-HTN (except for ALP) and HTN, independent of known risk factors. Hence, it may be possible to use liver enzymes to predict the incidence of pre-HTN and HTN, empowering primary care providers to make the necessary interventions promptly.

Demographic and Socioeconomic Predictors of Prehypertension and Hypertension in the Adult Population: Serbian National Health Survey.

Background and Objectives: Prehypertension and hypertension are the most common cardiovascular disorders worldwide and are increasingly considered one of the most serious public health problems, particularly in developing countries. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and demographic and socioeconomic predictors of prehypertension and hypertension in the adults in Serbia, and to examine the relationship between prehypertension and hypertension and health behavior determinants (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity) and individual aspects of health (a health self-assessment, multimorbidity, BMI, depressive symptoms). Materials and Methods: The research is part of the fourth National Population Health Survey conducted in 2019, which was conducted by the Republic Institute of Statistics, in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. As a research instrument, questionnaires were used in accordance with the methodology of the European Health Survey. For the purposes of this research, data on the adult population aged 20 and over were used. Results: Women are at a reduced risk for both prehypertension (OR = 0.328) and hypertension (OR = 0.349) by nearly 70%. Similarly, those aged below 60 years have a lower risk for prehypertension and those younger than 40 years have a lower risk for hypertension (OR = 0.995), whereas people with a lower education have a 4.3 times higher risk of prehypertension (OR = 4.323) and a 1.6 times higher risk of hypertension (OR = 1.614). The poor have a 1.4 times higher risk of prehypertension (OR = 1.413) and a 1 times higher risk of hypertension (OR = 1.035). People with multimorbidity have a 1.2 times higher risk of both prehypertension (OR = 1.218) and a 4.8 times higher risk of hypertension (OR = 4.867). Conclusions: Male gender, lower education, poverty, age and the presence of multimorbidity are significant predictors of prehypertension and hypertension in the Serbian adult population, so preventive strategies should be aimed at these sensitive population groups.

Thyroid-related Hormones and Hypertension Incidence in Middle-Aged and Older Hispanic/Latino Adults: The HCHS/SOL Study.

Background: Thyroid-related hormones act to regulate metabolic pathways and blood pressure (BP). However, the relationship of TSH and peripheral thyroid hormones and the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis on hypertension development is not fully understood. We assessed sex-specific associations of thyroid-related hormones with BP and hypertension in Hispanic/Latino adults followed for 6 years. Methods: We studied 1789 adults, ages 45 to 74, free of diabetes at baseline from a subcohort of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. We assessed TSH, free T4 (FT4), T3, and various indicators of thyroid axis. Using multivariable linear and Poisson regression adjusted for survey design and confounding variables, we estimated a priori sex-specific associations of thyroid-related hormones with changes in BP and hypertension development. Results: In men and women, TSH and TSH/FT4 ratios were associated with changes in diastolic BP and T3 with changes in pulse pressure and the development of hypertension from prehypertension. In men, a 1-SD increase in TSH [incident rate ratio (IRR) = 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15, 1.75] and TSH/FT4 ratio (IRR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.35) were positively associated with the development of hypertension from prehypertension while the TSH/FT4 ratio (IRR = 0.85; 95% CI: .72, 1.00) was protective in women. We observed sex-specific differences in associations of the T3/FT4 ratio and indices of pituitary sensitivity to thyroid hormones with changes in pulse pressure and hypertension development. Conclusion: Thyroid-related hormones are associated with sex-specific changes in BP and hypertension among Hispanic/Latino adults consistent with selected studies conducted in other populations. Mechanisms underlying associations of pituitary sensitivity to thyroid hormones with BP and hypertension development warrant further study.

Proteomic Analysis of Prehypertensive and Hypertensive Patients: Exploring the Role of the Actin Cytoskeleton.

Hypertension is a pervasive and widespread health condition that poses a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which includes conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Despite its widespread occurrence, the exact cause of hypertension remains unknown, and the mechanisms underlying the progression from prehypertension to hypertension require further investigation. Recent proteomic studies have shown promising results in uncovering potential biomarkers related to disease development. In this study, serum proteomic data collected from Qatar Biobank were analyzed to identify altered protein expression between individuals with normal blood pressure, prehypertension, and hypertension and to elucidate the biological pathways contributing to this disease. The results revealed a cluster of proteins, including the SRC family, CAMK2B, CAMK2D, TEC, GSK3, VAV, and RAC, which were markedly upregulated in patients with hypertension compared to those with prehypertension (fold change ≥ 1.6 or ≤-1.6, area under the curve ≥ 0.8, and q-value < 0.05). Pathway analysis showed that the majority of these proteins play a role in actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Actin cytoskeleton reorganization affects various biological processes that contribute to the maintenance of blood pressure, including vascular tone, endothelial function, cellular signaling, inflammation, fibrosis, and mechanosensing. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest a potential novel role of actin cytoskeleton-related proteins in the progression from prehypertension to hypertension. The present study sheds light on the underlying pathological mechanisms involved in hypertension and could pave the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of this disease.

Assessing levels of uric acid and other cardiovascular markers in prehypertensive and hypertensive adults.

INTRODUCTION: Although some studies have reported the association between uric acid (UA) and hypertension, evidence on prehypertension is still lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the levels of UA and other cardiovascular markers among prehypertensive and hypertensive patients and assess their risk for developing arterial hypertension. METHODS: 157 individuals were recruited: 67 normotensive, 23 pre-hypertensive and 67 hypertensive. Blood samples were collected to measure biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were evaluated. We calculated the product of lipid accumulation and the visceral adiposity index to assess cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Our data showed an increase in UA levels in normotensives (4.9±1.3mg/dL), prehypertensives (5.2±1.3mg/dL) and hypertensives (5.9±1.6mg/dL) (p=0.004). We found a higher frequency of hyperuricemia in the hypertensive group (34.3%) than in the normotensive group (13.4%, p<0.05). Hypertensive volunteers had lower levels of HDL-C (p=0.004 and p=0.003) and higher body mass indexes (p<0.001 and p=0.007), glucose (p<0.001 and p=0.033), triglycerides (p=0.001 and p=0.005), visceral adiposity index (p<0.001 and p=0.002) and lipid accumulation product (p<0.001 and p=0.007) than normotensive and prehypertensive participants. We also observed that individuals with UA≥6.2mg/dL had an increased risk of hypertension of 4.77 (p=0.003) compared to individuals with levels≤4.3mg/dL. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that UA is associated with increased blood pressure and unfavorable changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters, which represent risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Chinese Visceral Adiposity Index Predict Prehypertension Progression and Regression: A Prospective Cohort Study Involving Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are published on the relationship of the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) with prehypertension progression or regression. Therefore, we investigated this association through the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. METHODS: Participants with prehypertension were assigned to two groups according to baseline CVAI, and after 4 years of follow-up, their blood pressure was analyzed for deterioration or improvement. We constructed logistic regression models for assessing the association of CVAI with the progression or regression of prehypertension. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was utilized for determining the dose-response association. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. RESULTS: The study included 2,057 participants with prehypertension. During the follow-up, 695 participants progressed to hypertension, 561 participants regressed to normotension, and 801 participants remained as prehypertensive. An association was observed between a high CVAI value and a higher incidence of progression to hypertension and between a high CVAI value and a lower incidence of regression to normotension (OR = 1.66 and 0.58, 95% CI: 1.35-2.05 and 0.47-0.73, respectively). The RCS model exhibited a linear association between CVAI and prehypertension progression and regression (all P for non-linear > 0.05). The results of the subgroup and sensitivity analyses agreed with those of the primary analysis. CONCLUSIONS: A significant association was noted between CVAI and prehypertension progression and regression. Thus, as part of the hypertension prevention strategy, monitoring CVAI is crucial in individuals with prehypertension.