GET THE APP

..

Journal of Hypertension: Open Access

ISSN: 2167-1095

Open Access

Articles in press and Articles in process

    Mini Review Pages: 1 - 2

    Henrey Johns

    Postrevascularization syndrome (PRS) is a condition that arises as a result of the restoration of normal blood flow to tissues after a prolonged period of ischemia, which is the deficiency of blood supply to an organ or tissue. PRS is characterized by a range of injuries, both local and systemic, that can lead to serious complications if not treated promptly.

    Brief Report Pages: 1 - 2

    Pietro Delise

    Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF) is a type of atrial fibrillation that occurs in episodes, typically lasting less than 7 days. This condition is characterized by irregular and rapid heartbeats that originate in the atria of the heart. Although PAF may be asymptomatic in some patients, it can cause a range of symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and palpitations. PAF is a relatively common condition, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is more prevalent in older adults and the risk of developing PAF increases with age. The condition is also more common in people with underlying heart disease, such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure

    Short Communication Pages: 1 - 2

    Lucija Telisman

    Pseudohyperaldosteronism, also known as apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome (AME), is a rare genetic disorder that causes the body to produce excessive amounts of cortisol, leading to hypertension and hypokalemia. In some cases, certain medications, including azole antifungals, can also induce pseudohyperaldosteronism-mediated hypertension and hypokalemia. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. While there are many factors that can contribute to hypertension, including lifestyle and genetic factors, pseudohyperaldosteronism-induced hypertension is caused by the overproduction of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps regulate the body's response to stress. When cortisol levels are too high, it can cause the body to retain sodium and excrete potassium, leading to fluid retention and increased blood pressure

    Commentary Pages: 1 - 2

    George Washington

    Baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) is a novel treatment option for patients with heart failure that works by stimulating the body's natural baroreflex mechanism. This therapy involves the implantation of a device that sends electrical impulses to the baroreceptors located in the carotid arteries, which in turn signals the brain to regulate blood pressure and heart rate. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of BAT in patients with heart failure. A recent study published in the Journal of Cardiology aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BAT in patients with cardiomyopathy, both with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). The study included 30 patients with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy who received BAT over a 6-month period. The study's primary endpoints were changes in exercise capacity, quality of life and NTproBNP levels

    Perspective Pages: 1 - 2

    Salman Miki

    Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH), also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, is a neurological condition characterized by increased intracranial pressure without a clear cause. It is most commonly seen in young overweight women, although it can affect people of any age, gender, or body type. The symptoms of BIH may include severe headaches, pulsatile tinnitus (ringing in the ears), transient visual obscurations, double vision, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are often worse upon waking up in the morning or after changes in posture, such as standing up. If left untreated, BIH can cause vision loss and permanent damage to the optic nerves.

      Research Article Pages: 1 - 4

      Predictors of blood pressure response to CPAP treatment in patients with sleep apnea

      Maximilian Seidel*, Muhammed F. Kiziler, Sebastian Bertram, Simon Wang, Felix S. Seibert, Nina Babel, Timm H. Westhoff

      Share this article

      Background: Sleep apnea is associated with hypertension. Metaanalyses indicate that treatment of sleep apnea by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces blood pressure (BP) by a mean of 3 mmHg. To date, predictors of BP response to CPAP remain incompletely understood. We hypothesized that the magnitude of CPAP-induced BP reduction depends on baseline apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and the extent of daytime sleepiness. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on the association of BP response to CPAP with polysomnographic readings, intensity of sleepiness (measured by Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS), and epidemiologic parameters in 2461 patients with obstructive sleep apnea. BP response was defined as the difference between office BP at polysomonography examinations before and after initiation of CPAP. Results: 555 patients fulfilled all in- and exclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Median monthly CPAP usage was 143.7h (85.4-204.1h). BP was significantly higher at baseline than at follow-up (129.9±15.5 vs. 128.3±15.2, p=0.021) resulting in mean reduction of BP of -1.5±19.2 mmHg. Subjects with a higher than median baseline AHI (median 21) showed a more pronounced reduction of BP than those with lower AHI (AHI ≥21: 130.5±15.3 vs. 128.6±14.6, p=0.06; AHI <21: 129.5±15.8 vs. 127.9±15.8, p=0.18). CPAP therapy led to a significant reduction in sleepiness (8.3±4.8 vs. 6.6±4.5, p<0.0001). Those subjects with higher than median sleepiness score (ESS ≥8), however, did not show a significant difference in BP response compared to those with a lower sleepiness score. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses investigating the accuracy of AHI and ESS to predict a BP reduction ≥5 mmHg revealed an AUC of 0.51 and 0.52, respectively. Conclusion: The study confirms that CPAP therapy for sleep apnea has a mild BP lowering effect. Although this effect is slightly higher in patients with above-average AHI, neither AHI nor ESS can be used to define threshold values predicting a BP decrease ≥ 5 mmHg.

        Original Research Article Pages: 1 - 3

        The Proportion of Physician Notes Addressing Elevated Blood Pressure Readings Varies Dramatically across Internal Medicine Specialties

        Samuel David Zetumer, Philip M. Polgreen, Manish Suneja, Cole G. Chapman and Linnea A. Polgreen*

        DOI: 10.37421/2167-1095.2024.13.437

        Background: Both diagnostic and therapeutic inertia are important barriers to Blood Pressure (BP) control. BP readings are routinely measured and recorded at most healthcare visits. Thus, there are many opportunities to diagnose hypertension and improve BP control. The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of patients with elevated BP measurements where BP or hypertension is mentioned in the clinical notes.

        Methods: We randomly selected outpatient visits for 10,000 patients in Internal Medicine clinics (1-1-2017 to 6-30-2021) and recorded if there was a BP value ≥ 140/90 mm Hg. The Assessment and Plans (A/Ps) from these clinic visits were extracted using a rule-based pattern-matching algorithm. A/Ps with no matching text pattern indicating BP or hypertension was considered not to have addressed hypertension. The percentage of visits where BP was mentioned was calculated for each specialty.

        Results: Among the 10,000 patients, we found 5,674 clinic visits where patients had elevated BP. A/Ps from nephrology, cardiology and general internal medicine visits mentioned elevated BP at least 50% of the time. In contrast, A/Ps from encounters with allergy/immunology, endocrinology (not diabetes clinic) and rheumatology specialists referenced the patient’s BP less than 10% of the time.

        Conclusions: We demonstrate widespread deficiencies in the discussion of hypertension and BP in clinical notes across medical specialties.

      Relevant Topics

arrow_upward arrow_upward