Identification of the hemodynamic modulators and hemodynamic status in uncontrolled hypertensive patients.

Only 20-30% out of the treated hypertensive patients in Europe are achieving blood pressure (BP) control. Among other recognized factors, these poor results could be attributable to the fact that for many doctors it is very difficult to detect which is the predominant hemodynamic cause of the hypertension (hypervolemia, hyperinotropy or vasoconstriction). The aim of the study was to use non-invasive thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB) to evaluate hemodynamic modulators and subsequent hemodynamic status in uncontrolled hypertensive patients, receiving at least two antihypertensive drugs. A number of 134 uncontrolled hypertensive patients with essential hypertension were evaluated in nine European Hypertension Excellence centers by means of TEB (the HOTMAN(®) System). Baseline office systolic and diastolic BP averaged 156/92 mmHg. Hemodynamic measurements show that almost all patients (98.5%) presented at least one altered hemodynamic modulator: intravascular hypervolemia (96.4%) and/or hypoinotropy (42.5%) and/or vasoconstriction (49.3%). Eleven combinations of hemodynamic modulators were present in the study population, the most common being concomitant hypervolemia, hypoinotropy and vasoconstriction in 51(38%) patients. Six different hemodynamic states (pairs of mean arterial pressure and stroke index) were found. Data suggest that there is a strong relation between hypertension and abnormal hemodynamic modulators. This method might be helpful for treatment individualization of hypertensive patients.

Importance of adherence in the management of hypertension.

The WHO indicates that lack of adherence is a matter of the highest priority in Public Health, and is the main cause of not obtaining all the benefits that medications can provide; it is at the origin of medical and psychosocial complications; reduces quality of life; it increases the probability of the appearance of drug resistance and wastes healthcare resources. The no adherence prevalence in hypertension (HTN) ranges between 55.5% with self-reporting and 46.6% with pill counting, and treatment abandonment occurs in 18.5% of patients. The electronic prescription has been validated in HTN using MEMS as a comparison, with sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 93.7%, with an area under the curve of 0.903. In 2019, almost 10 million deaths were directly attributed to HTN. No other disease causes as high a number of deaths and has as high a projected increase in deaths as cardiovascular disease (CVD). By 2030, it is projected that more than 22 million people/year will die from CVD, almost 5 million more than in 2012. In a predictive model for a period of 10 years in five European countries (Italy, Germany, France, Spain and England), the potential savings of increasing adherence to antihypertensive treatment to 70% has been estimated at 332 million euros (80 million in the case of Spain). The use of fixed combinations of two or three drugs is a good method to reduce non-adherence.

[Role of the renin-angiotensin system in pregnancy and preeclampsia]. / Papel del sistema renina-angiotensina en el embarazo y la preeclampsia.

The renin-angiotensin system (ARS) is a hormonal cascade that regulates blood pressure, electrolytes and water balance. AngiotensinII (AII) exerts its effects through the AT1 and AT2 receptors. AT1 is found in the syncytiotrophoblast, AT2 predominates during foetal development and its stimulation inhibits cell growth, increases apoptosis, causes vasodilation and regulates the development of foetal tissue. There is also an SRA in the placenta. The local generation of AII is responsible for the activation of AT1 receptors in the trophoblast. In normal pregnancy, concomitantly with reduction of blood pressure the circulating RAS increases, but blood pressure does not rise due to AII refractoriness, which does not occur in preeclampsia. We review the role of the SRA in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

[Spanish Society of Hypertension position statement on the 2017 ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines]. / Documento de la Sociedad Española de Hipertensión-Liga Española para la Lucha contra la Hipertensión Arterial (SEH-LELHA) sobre las guías ACC/AHA 2017 de hipertensión arterial.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have recently published their guidelines for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of hypertension in adults. The most controversial issue is the classification threshold at 130/80mmHg, which will allow a large number of patients to be diagnosed as hypertensive who were previously considered normotensive. Blood pressure (BP) is considered normal (<120mmHg systolic and <80mmHg diastolic), elevated (120-129 and <80mmHg), stage 1 (130-139 or 80-89mmHg), and stage 2 (≥140 or ≥90mmHg). Out-of-office BP measurements are recommended to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension and for titration of BP-lowering medication. In management, cardiovascular risk would be determinant since those with grade 1 hypertension and an estimated 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ≥10%, and those with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and/or diabetes will require pharmacological treatment, the rest being susceptible to non-pharmacological treatment up to the 140/90mmHg threshold. These recommendations would allow patients with level 1 hypertension and high atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to benefit from pharmacological therapies and all patients could also benefit from improved non-pharmacological therapies. However, this approach should be cautious because inadequate BP measurement and/or lack of systematic atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease calculation could lead to overestimation in diagnosing hypertension and to overtreatment. Guidelines are recommendations, not impositions, and the management of hypertension should be individualized, based on clinical decisions, preferences of the patients, and an adequate balance between benefits and risks.

[What are the pharmacological options for treating resistant hypertension?] / ¿Qué posibilidades farmacológicas existen para tratar la hipertensión arterial resistente?

When treating a patient with resistant hypertension therapy should be optimize in order to prescribe three antihypertensive drugs at full doses, being powerful drugs, having 24-hour coverage, and showing synergistic effects. Diuretic therapy is of special relevance. The fourth drug should be an aldosterone antagonists. In the case of intolerance, or when control is not achieved, drugs from other type of antihypertensive drugs should be, sometimes allowing adequate blood pressure control.

[Gestational hypertension]. / La hipertensión arterial en la embarazada.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease unique to humans. PE complicates from 3 to 14% of pregnancies worldwide. Unknown cause yet, although part of poor placentation resulting placental ischemia release of proinfammatory cytokines and anti-angiogenic factors. Two PE types: early PE with maternal and fetal adverse events and late PE with low fetal involvement and more favorable maternal-fetal prognosis. As PE predictors being considered: increased uric acid of 3.15 mg/dl as a predictor of gestational hypertension in the first quarter and greater than 5.2 mg/dl for severe/eclampsia preeclampsia. The sFLT-1/PIGF (soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1/angioge nic placental growth facto) ratio is above 85 is a marker of pregnancy complications and a good indicator that helps decision making. Hypertension in pregnancy can be the beginning of vascular and metabolic alterations future; indeed the PE/eclampsia is considered a specific risk factor in women in some guides cardiovascular risk. © 2017 SEHLELHA. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

[Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy: Cardiovascular long-term outcomes]. / Trastornos hipertensivos en el embarazo: repercusión a largo plazo en la salud cardiovascular de la mujer.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) induces maternal and fetal damage, but it can also be the beginning of future metabolic and vascular disorders. The relative risk of chronic hypertension after PIH is between 2.3 and 11, and the likelihood of subsequent development of type 2 diabetes is multiplied by 1.8. Women with prior preeclampsia/eclampsia have a twofold risk of stroke and a higher frequency of arrhythmias and hospitalization due to heart failure. Furthermore, a tenfold greater risk for long-term chronic kidney disease is observed as well. The relative risk of cardiovascular death is 2.1 times higher compared to the group without pregnancy-induced hypertension problems, although the risk is between 4 and 7 times higher in preterm birth associated with gestational hypertension or pre-existing hypertension The postpartum period is a great opportunity to intervene on lifestyle, obesity, make an early diagnosis of chronic hypertension and DM and provide the necessary treatments to prevent cardiovascular complications in women.

Modification over time of pulse wave velocity parallel to changes in aortic BP, as well as in 24-h ambulatory brachial BP.

Arterial stiffness as assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is a marker of preclinical organ damage and a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, independently of blood pressure (BP). However, limited evidence exists on the association between long-term variation (Δ) on aortic BP (aoBP) and ΔcfPWV. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of ΔBP with ΔcfPWV over time, as assessed by office and 24-h ambulatory peripheral BP, and aoBP. AoBP and cfPWV were evaluated in 209 hypertensive patients with either diabetes or metabolic syndrome by applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor) at baseline(b) and at 12 months of follow-up(fu). Peripheral BP was also determined by using validated oscillometric devices (office(o)-BP) and on an outpatient basis by using a validated (Spacelabs-90207) device (24-h ambulatory BP). ΔcfPWV over time was calculated as follows: ΔcfPWV=[(cfPWVfu-cfPWVb)/cfPWVb] × 100. ΔBP over time resulted from the same formula applied to BP values obtained with the three different measurement techniques. Correlations (Spearman 'Rho') between ΔBP and ΔcfPWV were calculated. Mean age was 62 years, 39% were female and 80% had type 2 diabetes. Baseline office brachial BP (mm Hg) was 143±20/82±12. Follow-up (12 months later) office brachial BP (mm Hg) was 136±20/79±12. ΔcfPWV correlated with ΔoSBP (Rho=0.212; P=0.002), Δ24-h SBP (Rho=0.254; P<0.001), Δdaytime SBP (Rho=0.232; P=0.001), Δnighttime SBP (Rho=0.320; P<0.001) and ΔaoSBP (Rho=0.320; P<0.001). A multiple linear regression analysis included the following independent variables: ΔoSBP, Δ24-h SBP, Δdaytime SBP, Δnighttime SBP and ΔaoSBP. ΔcfPWV was independently associated with Δ24-h SBP (ß-coefficient=0.195; P=0.012) and ΔaoSBP (ß-coefficient= 0.185; P=0.018). We conclude that changes in both 24-h SBP and aoSBP more accurately reflect changes in arterial stiffness than do office BP measurements.

[Circulating endothelial progenitor cell levels in treated hypertensive patients]. / Niveles de células progenitoras endoteliales circulantes en pacientes hipertensos tratados.

INTRODUCTION: Most optimally treated hypertensive patients still have an around 50% increased risk of any cardiovascular event, suggesting the possible existence of unidentified risk factors. In the last years there has been evidence of the essential role of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the maintenance of endothelial integrity and function, increasing the interest in their involvement in cardiovascular disease. In this study, the circulating levels of EPCs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are investigated in treated hypertensive patients with adequate control of blood pressure (BP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from treated hypertensive patients with controlled BP. Plasma levels of EPCs CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/VE-cadherin+ were quantified by flow cytometry. Plasma concentration of VEGF was determined by ELISA. A group of healthy subjects without cardiovascular risk factors was included as controls. RESULTS: A total of 108 hypertensive patients were included (61±12 years, 47.2% men) of which 82.4% showed BP<140/90 mmHg, 91.7% and 81.5% controlled diabetes (HbA1c <7%) and cLDL (<130 or 100 mg/dL), respectively, and 85.2% were non-smokers. Around 45% of them were obese. Although patients had cardiovascular parameters within normal ranges, they showed significantly lower levels of CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/VE-cadherin+ compared with healthy control group, although plasma VEGF concentration was higher in patients than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an optimal treatment, hypertensive patients show a decreased number of circulating EPCs that could be, at least in part, responsible for their residual cardiovascular risk, suggesting that these cells could be a therapeutic target.

Severe hypertension in the Spanish population. Association with specific HLA antigens.

There is now increasing evidence for immunological changes in essential hypertension. Immunological response is determined in part by genes linked to the HLA system. It has been reported a positive association between HLA B15 and the risk for cerebral events in essential hypertensive (EH) patients. We studied the distribution of HLA antigens in 128 EH (age range, 13-85 years) and 1000 normotensive controls. EH were classified in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria: in WHO Stages I and II, there were 100 patients; in WHO Stage III, there were 28 patients. HLA-A and B antigens of peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied according to the microlymphocytotoxicity test. The results were compared by chi-square analysis, and the p value was multiplied by the number of antigens studied at each locus, to avoid overestimation of an association. Frequency of HLA-BW 22 was higher in EH compared with controls (5.4% vs 1.2%, p less than 0.01). Frequency of HLA-B12 in EH with WHO Stage III hypertension (64.2%) was significantly increased compared either with EH in WHO Stage I or II (29%, p less than 0.01) or the control group (26.9% p less than 0.001). The incidence of HLA-B15 antigen in the whole hypertensive group was 3.1%, lower than in normotensive controls (6.4%, p less than 0.8). None of the patients with WHO Stage III hypertension had the HLA-B15 antigen. In conclusion, the results seemed to indicated that the Spanish population had an association between HLA-B12 and severe hypertension.

[Sleep apnea in arterial hypertension]. / Apnea del sueño en la hipertensión arterial.

BACKGROUND: The sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) and high blood pressure (HBP) present multiple relations. Apnea culminates with an increase in arterial pressure, and a high percentage of apneic patients have HBP. It has also been reported that SAS is more frequent among hypertensive patients than among the general population. METHODS: In the present study 91 essential hypertensive individuals were studied by a questionnaire and polygraphic study of night sleep, to establish the prevalence of SAS among hypertensive subjects and the predictive value of the clinical questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of SAS in HBP was 8.8%. The greatest predictive value was found for the presence of respiratory pauses every night and throughout the night. The risk factor of greatest association was cigarette smoking and the greatest organic repercussion was observed in renal function. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome was found among essential hypertensive subjects, thus leading this syndrome to be suggested as a risk factor of high blood pressure. The question as to whether the patients present daily pauses between snores and throughout the entire night is suggestive and implies confirmation by polygraphic study of night sleep.

[Treatment of essential arterial hypertension with hypercholesterolemia. Effects of an alpha-adrenergic blocker and an inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme]. / Tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial esencial con hipercolesterolemia. Efectos de un bloqueador alfaadrenérgico y un inhibidor de la enzima conversiva de la angiotensina.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are frequently associated with this leading to considerable cardiovascular risk. METHODS: An open parallel randomized study was performed in which the effects of doxazosin, an alpha-adrenergic blocker and enalapril, an inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme were compared in 70 patients with essential high blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels greater than 240 mg/dl. Following 2-4 weeks of placebo administration the patients were randomly treated with one of the two drugs. When required doses were increased and hydrochlorothiazide added until blood pressure lower than 160/95 mmHg was achieved. After this period the patients were observed for a minimum of 8 weeks. The mean length of the study was of 22 weeks. RESULTS: Both drugs significantly reduced blood pressure without modifying cardiac frequency. Doxazosin tended to favorably modify the lipid profile of the plasma while enalapril significantly reduced the levels of cholesterol, lipids and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Upon termination of the study the total HDL/cholesterol index increased 8.6% in those treated with doxazosin and decreased 5.5% in those receiving enalapril (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although doxazosin and enalapril are potent antihypertensive drugs, the effects on plasma lipid obtained with doxazosin indicate that a reduction in cardiovascular risk was achieved with this drug in the patients included in this study.

Calcium intake, calcium excretion and blood pressure in adolescents in the upper decile of the distribution: the Torrejon study.

We studied, by dietary recall, the calcium and magnesium intake in 1109 adolescents aged 14-18 years; from 128 we collected a 24-h urine sample to determine electrolyte excretion. Subjects with blood pressure greater than 90th percentile (211) did not consume less calcium or magnesium than those with blood pressure less than 50th (597). Urinary calcium excretion tended to be higher in the adolescents with the highest blood pressure, the difference being statistically significant in males. Urinary sodium excretion also tended to be higher in those adolescents with blood pressure above the 90th percentile than in those with blood pressure below the 50th percentile, the differences being statistically significant in females. A positive significant correlation was found between systolic blood pressure and both calcium and sodium excretion. Our results suggest that hypercalciuria is present in the early phase of hypertension and demonstrate that adolescents at high risk of developing hypertension consume the same amounts of calcium and magnesium as those with low blood pressure.

Relationship of blood pressure levels to height, weight and sodium and potassium excretion in Spanish children.

To study the distribution of blood pressure (BP) in children we measured the BP of 1928 children (aged 6-14 years) living in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain. Of these, 441 children, representative of all ages, supplied a 24-h urine sample from which sodium and potassium were determined. There was a progressive rise in systolic BP of 1.8 mmHg and in diastolic BP of 0.8 mmHg per year of age. The correlations between BP, height and weight were positive and almost always statistically significant. Sodium excretion varied from 159 +/- 30 mmol/day at 6-7 years to 170 +/- 40 mmol/day at 13-14 years. There was a positive correlation between BP and sodium excretion which was statistically significant for diastolic BP in girls aged 6-7 years (P < 0.01) and for systolic BP in boys aged 10-12 (P < 0.05) and 13-14 (P < 0.01) years.

Importance of adherence in the management of hypertension / Importancia de la adherencia terapéutica en el manejo de la hipertensión

The WHO indicates that lack of adherence is a matter of the highest priority in Public Health, and is the main cause of not obtaining all the benefits that medications can provide; it is at the origin of medical and psychosocial complications; reduces quality of life; it increases the probability of the appearance of drug resistance and wastes healthcare resources.The no adherence prevalence in hypertension (HTN) ranges between 55.5% with self-reporting and 46.6% with pill counting, and treatment abandonment occurs in 18.5% of patients. The electronic prescription has been validated in HTN using MEMS as a comparison, with sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 93.7%, with an area under the curve of 0.903. In 2019, almost 10 million deaths were directly attributed to HTN. No other disease causes as high a number of deaths and has as high a projected increase in deaths as cardiovascular disease (CVD). By 2030, it is projected that more than 22 million people/year will die from CVD, almost 5 million more than in 2012. In a predictive model for a period of 10 years in five European countries (Italy, Germany, France, Spain and England), the potential savings of increasing adherence to antihypertensive treatment to 70% has been estimated at 332 million euros (80 million in the case of Spain). The use of fixed combinations of two or three drugs is a good method to reduce non-adherence. (AU)

La OMS indica que la falta de adherencia es una cuestión de máxima prioridad en salud pública, y es la principal causa de que no se obtengan todos los beneficios que los medicamentos pueden proporcionar; está en el origen de complicaciones médicas y psicosociales, reduce la calidad de vida, aumenta la probabilidad de aparición de resistencias a los fármacos y desperdicia recursos asistenciales.La prevalencia de la no adherencia en hipertensión (HTA) oscila entre el 55,5% con la autodeclaración, y el 46,6% con el recuento y el abandono del tratamiento se produce en el 18,5% de los pacientes.Se ha validado en HTA la receta electrónica utilizándose los MEMS como comparativo, con sensibilidad del 87% y especificidad del 93,7%, con un área bajo la curva de 0,903.Se contabilizan en 2019 casi 10 millones de muertes achacadas directamente a la HTA. Ninguna otra enfermedad causa un número tan elevado de muertes ni tiene un incremento proyectado de fallecimientos tan elevado como la enfermedad cardiovascular. Para 2030 se prevé que morirán más de 22 millones de personas/año por enfermedad cardiovascular, casi 5 millones más que en 2012. En un modelo predictivo para un período de 10 años en 5 países europeos (Italia, Alemania, Francia, España e Inglaterra) el ahorro potencial de aumentar la adherencia al tratamiento antihipertensivo al 70% se ha estimado en 332 millones de euros (80 millones en el caso de España). El uso de combinaciones fijas de 2 o de 3 fármacos es un buen método para reducir la no adherencia. (AU)

Documento de la Sociedad Española de Hipertensión-Liga Española para la Lucha contra la Hipertensión Arterial (SEH-LELHA) sobre las guías ACC/AHA 2017 de hipertensión arterial / Spanish Society of Hypertension position statement on the 2017 ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines

El American College of Cardiology (ACC) y la American Heart Association (AHA) han publicado recientemente la guía para la prevención, detección, evaluación y tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial (HTA) en adultos. El punto más controvertido es el umbral diagnóstico de 130/80 mmHg, lo cual conlleva diagnosticar HTA en un gran número de personas previamente consideradas no hipertensas. La presión arterial (PA) se clasifica como normal (sistólica < 120 y diastólica 80 mmHg), elevada (120-129 y < 80 mmHg), grado 1 (130-139 o 80-89 mmHg) y grado 2 (≥ 140 o ≥ 90 mmHg). Se recomienda la medida de PA fuera de la consulta para confirmar el diagnóstico de HTA o para aumentar el tratamiento. En la toma de decisiones sería determinante el riesgo cardiovascular (RCV), ya que precisarían tratamiento farmacológico personas con HTA grado 1 con riesgo a 10 años de enfermedad cardiovascular aterosclerótica ≥ 10% y aquellas con enfermedad cardiovascular establecida, enfermedad renal crónica y diabetes, siendo el resto susceptibles de medidas no farmacológicas hasta umbrales de 140/90 mmHg. Dichas recomendaciones permitirían a los sujetos con HTA grado 1 y alto RCV beneficiarse de terapias farmacológicas y podrían mejorar las intervenciones no farmacológicas en todos los sujetos. Sin embargo, habría que ser cauteloso ya que sin poder garantizar una toma correcta de PA, ni el cálculo sistemático del RCV, la aplicación de dichos criterios podría sobrestimar el diagnóstico de HTA y suponer un sobretratamiento innecesario. Las guías son recomendaciones, no imposiciones, y el abordaje y manejo de la PA debe ser individualizado, basado en decisiones clínicas, preferencias de los pacientes y en un balance adecuado del beneficio y riesgo al establecer los diferentes objetivos de PA

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have recently published their guidelines for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of hypertension in adults. The most controversial issue is the classification threshold at 130/80mmHg, which will allow a large number of patients to be diagnosed as hypertensive who were previously considered normotensive. Blood pressure (BP) is considered normal (<120mmHg systolic and <80mmHg diastolic), elevated (120-129 and <80mmHg), stage 1 (130-139 or 80-89mmHg), and stage 2 (≥140 or ≥90mmHg). Out-of-office BP measurements are recommended to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension and for titration of BP-lowering medication. In management, cardiovascular risk would be determinant since those with grade 1 hypertension and an estimated 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ≥10%, and those with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and/or diabetes will require pharmacological treatment, the rest being susceptible to non-pharmacological treatment up to the 140/90mmHg threshold. These recommendations would allow patients with level 1 hypertension and high atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to benefit from pharmacological therapies and all patients could also benefit from improved non-pharmacological therapies. However, this approach should be cautious because inadequate BP measurement and/or lack of systematic atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease calculation could lead to overestimation in diagnosing hypertension and to overtreatment. Guidelines are recommendations, not impositions, and the management of hypertension should be individualized, based on clinical decisions, preferences of the patients, and an adequate balance between benefits and risks

[Why and when to begin pharmacological treatment with dual-therapy]. / Cuándo y por qué iniciar el tratamiento farmacológico con doble terapia.

Hypertension is a syndrome in which, in addition to the elevation of blood pressure, there is micro-, macrovascular and kidney disease. Several mechanisms are interrelated in the physiopathology of hypertension, such as, the volume, renin-angiotensin system, and the sympathetic nervous system. These factors make it difficult to achieve blood pressure control with only a single drug. The vast majority of patients will require the combination of 2 or 3 drugs acting synergistically to increase the rate of response rate to treatment, and improve blood pressure control. Recent studies show that this blood pressure control must be achieved as soon as possible, with dual therapy being the first choice, particularly in high cardiovascular risk patients, and in patients who need greater reductions in blood pressure to achieve the goal.

[Pharmacological compliance in the treatment of arterial hypertension. A review of studies published between 1975 and 2011]. / Cumplimiento farmacológico en el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial. Revisión de los estudios publicados entre los años 1975 y 2011.

A systematic review was performed from published articles on compliance (PubMed), between 1975 and first of June 2011. Specifically those which measured medication adherence using indirect methods (RCS and/or MEMS-Medication Event Monitoring System) were searched. Descriptors used were: hypertension AND patient compliance AND medication adherence. The main objective is to update the topic of therapeutic compliance in arterial hypertension worldwide, with special attention to Spain, as well as a critical evaluation of the evolution of therapeutic compliance over the period 1975-2011. After analysing 37 research studies published worldwide, the results were: total number of 8623 hypertensive patients, of whom 25.62% were non-compliers (n=2209; 95% CI; 23.82-27.42), and 74.38% were compliers (n=6414; 95% CI; 73.32-75.44). The weighted average of non-compliance was 37.60%. We conclude that the default rate in the pharmacological treatment of hypertension worldwide is high.