Reducing the burden of arterial hypertension: what can be expected from an improved access to health care? Results from a study in 2420 unemployed subjects in the Caribbean.

High prevalence and poor control of hypertension have been observed in populations with low-socioeconomic status. Comparing an unemployed population with another employed population sharing the same culture, and another employed population living in another environment might enlighten the effects of factors accessible to primary prevention on the one hand and access to health care on the other hand. The objectives are, first, to describe blood pressure (BP) prevalence and control in an unemployed Caribbean population benefiting from State financial support and good access to health care and second, compare the results in this population with those observed, with the same methodology in two employed populations, one in the Caribbean and one in metropolitan France. A cross-sectional study of 2420 consecutive unemployed subjects referred for check-up in the two health centres of Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean island. Hypertension prevalence was 25.2% in men and 22.1% in women. BP was controlled in 17.3% of men and 37.2% of women receiving antihypertensive medication. Among women, 58% were overweight and 29% obese. Prevalence of hypertension was higher among the unemployed and employed Caribbean population, than among an employed metropolitan French population. A high prevalence of obesity was observed in the two Caribbean populations suggesting the interest of primary prevention in the Caribbean. Burden of hypertension in a population relates to the development of hypertension (primary prevention) and control of hypertension (secondary prevention). Identifying hypertensive patients and controlling blood pressure are both important to reduce the disease burden.

[Prevalence of hypertension in a disadvantaged population in Antilles: a major role for obesity?]. / Prévalence de l'HTA en population précaire aux Antilles : rôle majeur de l'obésité?

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and its management in a disadvantaged population, essentially composed of those receiving state subsidies and the unemployed. METHODS: The PHAPPG study : Prevalence of Hypertension in a Population Précaire Guadeloupéenne (disadvantaged population in Guadeloupe) included 2420 consecutive people considered to be 'disadvantaged' seen in the two medical examination centres in Guadeloupe between November 2001 and November 2003. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was considerable throughout the female population of Antilles (29%). It was recorded in 12% of men. The prevalence of hypertension in the population was 24.7% for men and 22.1% for women. Obesity was the main factor that could explain the higher prevalence of hypertension noted in Antilles, especially among 'disadvantaged' women. In effect, after correction for other risk factors and for age, this prevalence of hypertension was on average three times higher amongst the obese compared to subjects with normal weights. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension is elevated in the population of Antilles, especially among the disadvantaged. Obesity is the key factor, upon which a primary prevention policy for hypertension could be based.

[Obesity and high blood pressure in French West Indies women, some difference according to definition of obesity; BMI or abdominal obesity]. / Obésité et hypertension artérielle chez la femme antillaise, la prévalence diffère selon la définition utilisée, indice de masse corporelle ou tour de taille.

OBJECTIVES: To compare prevalence of abdominal obesity with obesity defined as BMI >or=30 kg/m2 in a West Indies population, and to define the relation between obesity and hypertension. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 2420 consecutive unemployed subjects referred for check-up in the two health centres of Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean island. Height and weight were measured and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight/height2 (kg/m2). Obesity was defined as BMI >or=30 kg/m2 and excess weight as BMI >or=25 kg/m2 and<30 kg/m2. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist measurement more than 88 cm for women and more than 102 cm for men. RESULTS: [table: see text] CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of obesity was observed in this Caribbean population suggesting the interest of primary prevention in The Caribbean. In women, abdominal obesity (waist measurement>88 cm) was more frequent than obesity defined as BMI>30 kg/m2). In a multivariate analysis, obesity is an independent risk factor of hypertension (Odds-ratio=3), however the definition of obesity.

[Access to care: not enough to completely abolish the disparity in hypertension management at the socio-economic level]. / Une bonne couverture sociale et un bon accès aux soins: un prérequis nécessaire mais insuffisant pour faire disparaître une disparité de prise en charge de l'HTA selon le niveau socio-économique.

Higher prevalence and poorer control of hypertension have been observed in populations with low socioeconomic status. The causal link between socioeconomic factors and hypertension is complex. What is the impact of medical services compared with other health status determinants? We aimed to assess blood pressure prevalence and control in an unemployed disadvantaged population receiving state financial support and with easy access to health care. This was a cross-sectional study of 2420 consecutive subjects in Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean island, who were referred for check-up in a health centre. As unemployed persons, they all benefited from state financial support and special coverage. Blood pressure was averaged from three consecutive measurements. Subjects not taking antihypertensive medications and with average BP > 140/90 mmHg underwent an additional visit. A total of 1088 men aged 42 +/- 10.6 years and 1332 women aged 40 +/- 11 years were included from November 2001 to November 2003. Hypertension prevalence was 25.2% in men and 22.1% in women, while awareness was 40.2% in men and 73% in women. Blood pressure was controlled (<140/90 mmHg) in 19% of men and 37,2 % of women receiving antihypertensive medication. Among women, 58% were overweight and 29% obese. Hypertension prevalence was slightly higher than that recently observed in cohorts of workers in Caribbean regions and metropolitan France. Control was poorer despite similar awareness and treatment rates. These findings suggest that a universal healthcare system can reduce, but not fully eliminate, disparities in hypertension care and prevalence across income categories.

Job constraints and arterial hypertension: different effects in men and women: the IHPAF II case control study.

AIMS: To examine, in a working population of men and women, the relation between organisational job constraints (job strain, passive and active jobs) and incident hypertension and the buffering effect of social support at work on this relation. METHODS: A nested case control study was designed within the IHPAF (Incidence of Hypertension in a French Working Population) cohort study. The 20 worksite physicians participating in the study enrolled 203 cases and matched each case for age (SD 10 years) and sex with two normotensive subjects attending the follow up screening immediately after him or her. As a result, 426 men and 183 women were included in the study. RESULTS: Mean age was 41.8 (SD 7.8) years in men and 43.5 (SD 7.5) years in women. Relations between job constraints and hypertension were stronger in women than in men. Odds ratios (OR) were 3.20 (95% CI 0.92 to 11.12) in women and 2.60 (95% CI 1.15 to 5.85) in men for job strain, 4.73 (95% CI 1.36 to 16.42) in women and 2.30 (95% CI 1.01 to 5.26) in men for passive jobs, and 4.51 (95% CI 1.24 to 16.43) in women and 2.39 (95% CI 1.10 to 5.18) in men for active jobs. Low social support at work was not related to hypertension and did not decrease the association with organisational risk factors. In both hypertensive men and women, obesity was related to hypertension (OR = 13.20 (95% CI 3.34 to 52.14) in women and 6.54 (95% CI 2.99 to 14.29) in men) and the prevalence of recent stressful life events was significantly lower in hypertensive women (OR = 0.32 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.89)) and men (OR = 0.37 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.67) compared with normotensives. Alcohol consumption was a significant risk factor for hypertension in women (OR = 3.47 (95% CI 1.18 to 10.25)). CONCLUSION: A stronger relation between job constraints and hypertension was observed in women compared with men. These findings emphasise the need of addressing more sex-specific concepts of work related stress on the one hand, and of understanding the direct and indirect mechanisms linking psychosocial factors and hypertension in both sexes on the other hand.

Reference values for self-recorded blood pressure: a meta-analysis of summary data.

BACKGROUND: The widespread clinical use of self-recorded blood pressure measurement is limited by the lack of generally accepted reference values. The purpose of this study was therefore to perform a meta-analysis of summary data in an attempt to determine an operational threshold for self-recorded blood pressures. STUDIES AND METHODS: Seventeen studies, including a total of 5422 subjects, were reviewed. Eight of these 17 studies included both normotensive and untreated hypertensive subjects, while the other 9 reports included normotensive subjects only. Within each study an operational cutoff point between normotension and hypertension was derived by means of the mean+2 SDs and the 95th percentiles of the self-recorded blood pressure in normotensive subjects. These 2 methods were contrasted with 2 other techniques that have been applied in the literature to calculate (1) the self-recorded pressures equivalent to a conventional pressure of 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic by means of regression analysis and (2) the self-recorded blood pressures at the percentiles corresponding to a conventional pressure of 140/90 mm Hg. The latter 2 methods were applied in untreated subjects not selected on the basis of their blood pressure. RESULTS: With weighting for the number of subjects included in the various studies, the self-recorded blood pressure averaged 115/71 mm Hg in normotensive persons and 119/74 mm Hg in untreated subjects not selected on the basis of their blood pressure. The reference values for self-recorded blood pressures determined by the mean+2 SDs (137/89 mm Hg) or the 95th percentile (135/86 mm Hg) of the distribution in normotensive subjects were concordant within 2/3 mm Hg, whereas the cutoff points derived with the regression and percentile methods were considerably lower, ie, 125/79 and 129/84 mm Hg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Until the relationship between self-recorded pressure and the incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is further clarified by prospective studies, a mean self-recorded blood pressure above 135 mm Hg systolic or 85 mm Hg diastolic may be considered hypertensive.

[Arterial hypertension in the French Caribbean regions: gender related differences]. / Hypertension artérielle aux Antilles: différences liées au sexe.

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension is a frequent disease, responsible for a significant morbidity, in the French Caribbean regions. Today, epidemiological studies on this topic remain few. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of arterial hypertension in the French Caribbean regions. METHODS: Analysis of the INHAPAG cohort (Incidence of Arterial Hypertension in the Working population Antillo-Guyanaise) carried out in 2001, and including 6113 active subjects recruited in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana. The procedure of diagnosis of arterial hypertension comprises two visits, with a series of three measurements of the blood pressure at each visit. RESULTS: Prevalence of hypertension is estimated to be 18.9% among women and 19.5% among men. The rates of treatment are higher among women (74.8 vs 34.4%) than among men, resulting in a much better control rate (61.3% vs 38.6% among men). An analysis of factors associated with the presence of arterial hypertension shows a noxious role of low education level among women. CONCLUSION: Our study finds marked differences between women and men in the treatment and control of arterial hypertension and underline the need for improving blood pressure management of the latter.

Early disturbances of ambulatory blood pressure load in normotensive type I diabetic patients with microalbuminuria.

OBJECTIVE: To compare 24-h ABP in normotensive type 1 diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was a retrospective comparison of cases and matched control subjects. The first phase included 35 type 1 diabetic patients, normotensive by OMS criteria. The 23 patients with normoalbuminuria (< 15 micrograms/min) were compared with 12 patients with microalbuminuria (> or = 15 micrograms/min). In the second phase, the 12 microalbuminuric patients were paired by sex- and age-matched with 12 normoalbuminuric patients and 12 nondiabetic healthy control subjects. We measured casual systolic and diastolic BP and HR, 24-h ABP and AHR (recorded with a Spacelabs automatic recorder), and microalbuminuria. RESULTS: No correlation between microalbuminuria and casual BP was observed. Microalbuminuria was correlated significantly with diastolic 24-h APR and nocturnal systolic and diastolic ABP (r = 0.35, 0.38, and 0.33, respectively; P < 0.05) and with AHR during all time periods (24-h, r = 0.46; day, r = 0.39; night, r = 0.39; P < 0.05). Normo- and microalbuminuric patients did not differ in casual BP and HR. However, microalbuminuric patients had a significant increase in systolic 24-h ABP (119.1 +/- 8.2 vs. 113.1 +/- 8.1, P = 0.05), diastolic 24-h ABP (74.9 +/- 7.5 vs. 70.2 +/- 5.7, P = 0.04), nocturnal systolic ABP (112.8 +/- 7.1 vs. 105.8 +/- 7.9, P = 0.01), and AHR during all time periods. The same results were observed when patients were paired by age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Normotensive microalbuminuric type 1 patients, although strictly comparable with normoalbuminuric patients for casual BP and HR, have an increased ABP and HR, especially during the night. This difference might reflect dysautonomia. Ambulatory measurement of BP and HR is more appropriate than casual measurements in hemodynamic studies of incipient diabetic nephropathies and could be proposed as an interesting tool for an early prediction of diabetic nephropathy.

Home blood pressure: variability, comparison with office readings and proposal for reference values. Groupe de la Mesure, French Society of Hypertension.

PURPOSE: A multicentre study was performed on 390 healthy subjects (210 male, 180 female) to evaluate home blood pressure versus office blood pressure. METHODS: The patients, aged 20-59 years, not on antihypertensive treatment, were not preselected by blood pressure levels. Blood pressure was measured in the doctor's office, using a mercury manometer at the fifth, sixth and seventh minute of rest, and at home by self-measurement using a validated electronic oscillometric device at the fifth, sixth and seventh minute of rest, in the morning and evening, on three consecutive days. RESULTS: The analysis of office and home measurements at the fifth, sixth and seventh minute of rest showed a significant decrease in blood pressure, mostly between the fifth and sixth minute. There was no significant variation in home pressure over the three consecutive days of measurement. Blood pressures were significantly higher in the evening than in the morning; the mean differences were 3 mmHg for systolic and 1.5 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure. Compared with office blood pressure measurement, home measurement provided significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure means. Of the subjects, 78% showed a higher systolic and 69.9% a higher diastolic blood pressure with office measurement than with home measurement. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure differences were non-significantly higher for females than for males and did not differ with age. CONCLUSIONS: The comparison of the office and home measurement distributions allowed us to propose reference values for home blood pressure measurement. These were established by choosing blood pressure at the identical percentile for home measurement as we found for office measurement using the World Health Organization criteria (140/90 and 160/95 mmHg). Using this approach, the upper limit for normotension by home measurement would be 127/83 mmHg and for hypertension 147/86 mmHg. Although this approach has no prognostic value, it could be useful for the interpretation of home blood pressure.

Examination of variability in arterial blood pressure at rest using spectral analysis in hypertensive patients.

INTRODUCTION: We hypothesize that in essential hypertension sympathetic nervous activity is related to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, which can be regarded as a measure of the severity of hypertension. METHODS: Using spectral analysis, we studied the short-term variability in resting blood pressure and heart rate in essential hypertensive subjects. We measured blood over 10 min using a Finapres in 88 subjects after 20 min rest. We performed echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular hypertrophy and thereby identified three groups: 23 control subjects (group I), 29 hypertensive subjects (World Health Organization criteria) without left ventricular hypertrophy (group II) and 36 hypertensive subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy (group III). None had been treated for hypertension before the study. RESULTS: The variability in blood pressure over a low-frequency period considered to be a marker of sympathetic activity was significantly increased in group II compared with groups I and III (analysis of covariance taking into account blood pressure and age). The variability in heart rate was similar in groups II and III, but both groups had a significantly reduced variability in heart rate compared with group I. CONCLUSION: These data, which examine globally, using a non-invasive method, all neurohormonal factors associated with the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, demonstrate that, in the time course of hypertension, low-frequency oscillations in blood pressure and heart rate are shifted to a lower level, presumably reflecting altered function of the sympathetic nervous system. We suggest that spectral analysis of blood pressure at rest in hypertensive patients can lead to complementary information to single measures of blood pressure and detect differences in the cardiovascular regulatory system.

Clinical value of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has now become an established clinical tool. It is appropriate to take stock and assess the situation of this technique. UPDATE ON EQUIPMENT: Important improvements in equipment have occurred, with reductions in weight, in awkwardness and in noisiness of the machines, better acceptability and tolerance by the patients, and better reliability. Validation programmes have been proposed and should be referred to. Limitations of the technique persist with intermittent recording in current practice. The reproducibility is limited in the short-term while recording over 24 h is acceptable. DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS: White-coat effect (WCE) is manifested as a transient elevation in blood pressure during the medical visit The frequency of this phenomenon, the size of the effect, age, sex and level of blood pressure (BP) or the situation of occurrence (general practitioner, specialist or nurse) have been interpreted differently. It does not seem that WCE predicts cardiovascular morbidity or mortality. White-coat hypertension (WCH) is diagnosed on the evidence of abnormal clinical measures of BP and normal ABPM. The latest upper limits of normality by ABPM recommended by the JNCVI are < 135/85 mmHg while patients are awake and < 120/75 mmHg while patients are asleep. If we accept these upper limits of normality in ABPM, WCH does not appear to be a real problem as regards risk factors or end-organ effects. In terms of prognosis, data are limited. Cardiovascular morbidity seems low in WCH but identical to that of hypertensive subjects in these studies. However, further studies are needed to confirm these results. WCH does not appear to benefit from anti-hypertensive treatment. It is obvious that the lower the BP regarded as the limit of normality, the less likely the occurrence of secondary effects of metabolism, or end-organ effects or complications in those classified as hypertensive. 24 HOUR CYCLE: One of the most specific characteristics of ABPM is the possibility of being able to discover modification or alteration of the 24 h cycle of BP. Non-dippers are classically defined as those who show a reduction in BP of less than 10/5 mmHg or 10% between the day (06.00-22.00 h) and the night, or an elevation in BP. In contrast, extreme dippers are those in whom the BP reduction is greater than 20%. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The data remain inconclusive with regard to the existence of a consistent relationship between the lack of a nocturnal dip in blood pressure and target organ damage. As regards prognosis, it seems that an inversion of the day-night cycle is of pejorative significance. CEREBROVASCULAR SYSTEM: Almost all studies have shown that non-dippers had a significantly higher frequency of stroke than dippers. In contrast, too great a fall in nocturnal BP may be responsible for more marked cerebral ischaemia. RENAL SYSTEM: Non-dippers have a significantly elevated median urinary excretion of albumin. There is a significant correlation between the systolic BP and nocturnal diastolic BP, and urinary excretion of albumin. Various studies have confirmed the increased frequency of change in the 24 h cycle in hypertensive subjects at the stage of renal failure. DIABETES: BP abnormalities should be considered as markers of an elevated risk in diabetic subjects but cannot be considered at present as predictive of the appearance of micro-albuminuria or other abnormalities. ABPM is thus of interest in type I or type II diabetes both in the initial assessment and in the follow-up and adaptation of treatment. PHARMACO-THERAPEUTIC USES: The introduction of ABPM has truly changed the means and possibilities of approach to the study of the effects of anti-hypertensive medications, with new possibilities of analysis such as trough-peak ratio smoothness index, etc.

Comparison of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists in the treatment of mild to moderate systemic hypertension, according to baseline ambulatory blood pressure level.

This study was aimed at determining whether baseline ambulatory blood pressure (BP) levels influence the efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists in the same manner. Accordingly, the ambulatory BP recordings of 236 mild to moderate hypertensive patients who had previously entered a clinical trial and had received either a calcium antagonist (n = 121) or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (n = 115) were reviewed. The inclusion criterion was a clinic diastolic BP between 95 and 115 mm Hg at the end of the placebo period. Patients were classified according to the difference between their observed and predicted ambulatory BP (the latter assessed by regressing the observed ambulatory BP on the clinic BP). Reduction in ambulatory systolic and diastolic BP seemed to be greater (p less than 0.0001, p = 0.01) in patients receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor than in those who were given a calcium antagonist. However, analysis of variance showed (1) there was a significant interaction (F = 6.37 p = 0.01) between the pharmacologic class and the baseline systolic ambulatory BP; and (2) the difference in diastolic ambulatory BP reduction between both classes was no longer significant when adjusted for baseline diastolic ambulatory BP. In patients with higher than predicted ambulatory BP levels, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists had roughly a similar effect (reduction in systolic BP, 9 +/- 8% vs 7 +/- 6%, p = not significant; reduction in diastolic BP, 11 +/- 8% vs 8 +/- 6%, p = not significant).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the management of antihypertensive therapy.

The recent development of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring techniques has improved recording of blood pressure in therapeutic trials and in the clinical setting. The application of ABP differs according to which of these 2 applications is being considered. In therapeutic trials, a placebo control is required. The large quantity of precise data acquired with ABP monitoring allows the study of a limited number of patients; it also allows individual study of patients with a 'white coat' response (i.e. elevated blood pressure in response to examination by the clinician). Analysis of data from ABP monitoring may include the following: comparison of mean blood pressure values over 24 hours, daytime or night-time, or over any other selected time period; 24-hour blood pressure profiles, or analysis hour-by-hour, giving true chronotherapy, and providing data regarding the wearing-off of a drug effect or loss of therapeutic control; analysis of blood pressure at particular times, such as on waking; or specific examination of nonresponders. In individual patients, ABP monitoring should be reserved for specific indications. It can be used before initiation of treatment to confirm the necessity for treatment, especially in the context of hypertension at rest or the 'white coat' effect. With established treatment, ABP monitoring can be used in patients with resistant hypertension, in severe hypertension to examine loss of blood pressure control over time or inversion of the day/night cycle, and in patients with a specific illness, e.g. diabetes, in order to obtain the lowest blood pressure readings possible. Examination of these factors assists clinicians to accurately decide upon the timing and frequency of antihypertensive therapy.

Effects of amlodipine on baroreflex and sympathetic nervous system activity in mild-to-moderate hypertension.

To investigate the effect of amlodipine on baroreflex sensitivity and sympathetic system activity, 36 patients with essential hypertension were randomized to once-daily, double-blind treatment with amlodipine 5 mg or placebo 5 mg for 60 days. Measurements with a Finapres device allowed calculation of baroreflex sensitivity and blood pressure (BP) variability. Adrenergic activity was assessed via measurements of lymphocyte beta2-adrenoceptors and plasma catecholamine concentrations. Compared with placebo, amlodipine significantly decreased BP, but did not significantly alter baroreflex sensitivity. Spectral analysis of Finapres data showed that, compared with placebo, amlodipine decreased the variability of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and RR interval in the low frequency band. There were no simultaneous changes in adrenergic function, however, suggesting that these effects of amlodipine were not mediated via sympathetic nervous system activation.

Ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure in normal pregnancy.

The definition of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy is plagued by many difficulties, in part related to the limits of intermittent clinic readings of blood pressure. In order to better define the evolution of arterial blood pressure in normal subjects during normal pregnancy, casual and ambulatory (Spacelabs 90207, n = 22 or Diasys 200, n = 26) measurements of blood pressure were performed at gestational months 3, 6, and 9, in 48 normal women aged 18 to 39, both nulliparas (n = 19) and multiparas (n = 29). Ambulatory blood pressure levels were lowest in the first gestational trimester (24-hour mean: 104 +/- 8/63 +/- 6 mm Hg) and rose by a small increment during the last trimester (109 +/- 8/67 +/- 7 mm Hg at 8 months). Mean daytime ambulatory pressure was almost superimposable to clinic measurements at the three time points. A day-night variation in blood pressure level was detectable in all subjects at each recording. It is concluded that during normal pregnancy, ambulatory blood pressure levels were highest in the day and lowest at night at all gestational ages and increased only minimally before the ninth month. Reference values, as defined by the percentile distribution of daytime and nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure, may help define more precisely an alteration in the level and/or the circadian variation of arterial blood pressure during abnormal pregnancies.

Isolated systolic hypertension: data on a cohort of young subjects from a French working population (IHPAF).

Elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH)--systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or =140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <90 mmHg--have increased mortality and morbidity. The aim was to study the incidence of ISH in a younger population of between 15 and 60 years of age, and to measure pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in these subjects. The study population consisted of 27 783 subjects, aged 15-60 years, untreated for hypertension (HT) from a cohort of employees formed to study the incidence of HT in the French working population (AIHFP). BP and HR were measured with a validated, automatic device after 5, 6 and 7 min at rest. The prevalence of ISH was 6.9% in men, 2.3% in women. This prevalence was over 5% in young men and increased at 40-44 years; it was negligible in young women, but increased at 50-54 years to about 10% (ie to the same level as in men of the same age): PP in subjects with ISH (46.9 mmHg) was significantly higher than in the normotensive group (NT-40.9 mmHg); it was comparable in both young men (65.5 mmHg) and older men (66 mmHg); it was higher in men (63.1 mmHg) than in women (61.5 mmHg). HR was higher in ISH than in NT and it was higher in women ( approximately 5 bpm) in whom it decreased with age. The prevalence of ISH is not negligible in HT (30% men, 25% women), with a high prevalence in young subjects and elevated PP, MAP and HR values. These data should be taken into account as elevated ISH, PP and HR are considered as cardio-vascular risk factors.

Cardiac and vascular remodelling: effect of antihypertensive agents.

The 1996 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for mild hypertension stressed the need to evaluate target-organ lesions as treatment criteria. The effects of both vascular and heart remodelling on hypertension must to be taken into account, as they adversely influence the prognosis of patients with hypertension. It was previously demonstrated that at least three classes of antihypertensive agents were able to decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension. Meta-analyses have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors seem to have a marked effect on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, the relationship between drug-induced LVH regression and reduced morbidity and mortality remains to be confirmed. The effect of antihypertensive agents on vascular hypertrophy, as assessed by intima-media thickness, and their involvement in reducing morbid events, also have to be determined at the vascular level. As experimental data have highlighted the involvement of angiotensin II in animal models of LVH and vascular hypertrophy development, the role of angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockers should also be assessed in this indication.

One-year hypertension incidence and its predictors in a working population: the IHPAF study.

THE AIMS OF OUR STUDY WERE: (i). to estimate the yearly incidence rates based on one vs two visits in a working population and (ii). to identify incident hypertension modifiable risk factors. A total of 21566 normotensive subjects were included in a 1-year cohort study. Blood pressure (BP) levels at inclusion and at the second year screening were measured on the basis of two visits, that is, if BP was over 140/90 mmHg in untreated subjects, they were invited to a control visit 1 month later. Height and weight were measured and behavioural risk factors were collected. Among the 17465 subjects who completed the entire protocol (9691 men and 7774 women), 17026 remained normotensive at a 1-year interval and 439 (325 men and 114 women) became hypertensive. Crude yearly incidence rates based on one visit were 6.21% in men and 3.06% in women, compared with 3.04% in men and 1.34% in women when incidence rates were based on two visits, a more than twofold difference. Age and body mass index at baseline were the two major independent determinants of incident hypertension in both genders. Smoking and alcohol consumption were significant risk factors in men but not in women, and a low educational level only in women. BP measurement on separate occasions is necessary to avoid overestimation of incidence. Weight in both genders and alcohol consumption in men were the main modifiable predictors of hypertension.

Use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data to predict left ventricular mass in hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown definite but weak correlations between 24h blood pressure and left ventricular mass in hypertension. OBJECTIVE: The present study applied an original multivariate analysis of parameters from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to predict left ventricular mass in hypertension. METHODS: Two hundred untreated hypertensive subjects (age=51+/-13 years, clinic blood pressure=163/98mmHg) had echocardiography and 24h recording of blood pressure. Data from 102 subjects were used to construct a mathematical model for prediction of left ventricular mass. The remaining 98 subjects were used to validate the model. RESULTS: The model included age, weight, height, 24h systolic blood pressure, heart rate over 24h, standard deviations of systolic blood pressure and of heart rate over 24h. Using this model, we explained 63% of the variance of left ventricular mass. Moreover, the model was validated for the correlation (r=0.70) between measured and the estimated left ventricular mass. CONCLUSIONS: Systolic blood pressure, heart rate and their standard deviations over 24h contribute to left ventricular mass in hypertensive subjects. Thus, it is important to take into account not only blood pressure but also heart rate in clinical studies.

Ambulatory blood pressure variation in normotensive subjects in relation to the sitting or standing position.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the physiological variations in arterial blood pressure in normotensive subjects during activity and in relation to the sitting or lying position. METHODS: The subjects were 30 healthy volunteers who were normotensive and receiving no treatment. Blood pressure was measured using the validated monitor Diasys Integra (NOVACOR SA, Rueil-Malmaison, France) with an integral position sensor. Blood pressure was recorded every 15min over a 24h period, additional measurements being made in the first, third and sixth minutes after standing up. RESULTS: During the active period (1000-2000h), 53% of the measures were made in the standing position. Over this period, the values of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were significantly elevated in the standing position in comparison to the sitting position. The difference was of the order of 5mmHg for the SBP, 3.5mmHg for the DBP and 9beats/min for the heart rate. The SBP, DBP and heart rate measured in the first, third and sixth minutes after standing up were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: When measuring the blood pressure and heart rate in ambulatory patients, it seems justified to evaluate the patient's position during monitoring in order to achieve a better reproducibility and also to uncover any problems of blood pressure control with positional change, as could exist in patients with autonomic dysfunction. This might also aid in evaluating antihypertensive treatment and also any deleterious hypotensive effects.