Role of dietary potassium and salt substitution in the prevention and management of hypertension.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continue to be the leading cause of deaths and disability worldwide and the major contributor is hypertension. Despite all the improvements in detecting hypertension together with technological advances and affordable, efficacious and relatively free of adverse effects anti-hypertensive agents, we continue to struggle to prevent the onset of hypertension and to control blood pressure (BP) to acceptable targets. The poor control of hypertension is commonly due to non-adherence to medications.

The HOPE Asia Network consensus on blood pressure measurements corresponding to office measurements: Automated office, home, and ambulatory blood pressures.

For adopting recently introduced hypertension phenotypes categorized using office and out of office blood pressure (BP) for the diagnosis of hypertension and antihypertension drug therapy, it is mandatory to define the corresponding out of office BP with the specific target BP recommended by the major guidelines. Such conditions include white-coat hypertension (WCH), masked hypertension (MH), white-coat uncontrolled hypertension (WUCH), and masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH). Here, the authors review the relevant literature and discuss the related issue to facilitate the use of corresponding BPs for proper diagnosis of WCH, MH, WUCH, and MUCH in the setting of standard target BP as well as intensive target BP.

Home blood pressure-centered approach - from digital health to medical practice: HOPE Asia Network consensus statement 2023.

Recent innovations in digital technology have enabled the simultaneous accumulation, and the linking and analysis of time-series big data relating to several factors that influence blood pressure (BP), including biological indicators, physical activity, and environmental information. Various approaches can be used to monitor BP: in the office/clinic; at home; 24-h ambulatory recording; or with wearable and cuffless devices. Of these, home BP monitoring is a reliable and convenient method, and is recommended for hypertension management by current national and international guidelines.

The HOPE Asia network 2022 up-date consensus statement on morning hypertension management.

Morning hypertension is an important clinical target in the management of hypertension for perfect 24-h blood pressure (BP) control. Morning hypertension is generally categorized into two types: "morning surge" type and "sustained nocturnal and morning hypertension" type. The "morning surge" type is characterized by an exaggerated morning blood pressure surge (MBPS), and the "sustained nocturnal and morning hypertension" type with continuous hypertension from nighttime to morning (non-dipper/riser type).

Seven-action approaches for the management of hypertension in Asia - The HOPE Asia network.

Asia is a large continent and there is significant diversity between countries and regions. Over the last 30 years, absolute blood pressure (BP) levels in Asia have increased to a greater extent than those in other regions. In diverse Asia-Pacific populations, for choosing an Asia-specific approach to hypertension management is important to prevent target organ damage and cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular risk assessment tools in Asia.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is becoming the most important burden to health care systems in most part of the world, especially in Asia. Aiming at identifying high risk individuals and tailoring preventive treatment, many cardiovascular risk assessment tools have been established and most of them were developed in Western countries. However, these cardiovascular risk assessment tools cannot be used interchangeably without recalibration because of the different risk factor profiles (ie, greater absolute burden of hypertension and lower level of total-cholesterol in Asians and higher prevalence of metabolic disorders in South Asians) and different CVD profiles (higher ratio of stroke/coronary heart disease in Asians) between Western and Asian populations.

Regional differences in office and self-measured home heart rates in Asian hypertensive patients: AsiaBP@Home study.

Increased heart rate is a predictor of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. In those with high heart rates, interventions for heart rate reduction have been associated with reductions in coronary events. Asia is a diverse continent, and the prevalences of hypertension and cardiovascular disease differ among its countries.

Current status of adherence interventions in hypertension management in Asian countries: A report from the HOPE Asia Network.

Adherence continues to be the major hurdle in hypertension management. Since the early 2000s, systematic approaches have been emphasized to tackle multi-dimensional issues specific for each regional setting. However, there is little data regarding implementation of adherence interventions in Asian countries.

Guidance on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: A statement from the HOPE Asia Network.

Hypertension is an important public health issue due to its association with a number of serious diseases, including cardiovascular disease and stroke. The importance of evaluating hypertension taking into account different blood pressure (BP) profiles and BP variability (BPV) is increasingly being recognized, and is particularly relevant in Asian populations given the specific features of hypertension in the region (including greater salt sensitivity and a high rate of nocturnal hypertension). Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) is the gold standard for diagnosing hypertension and assessing 24-hour BP and provides data on several important parameters that cannot be obtained using any other form of BP measurement.

Hypertension and stroke in Asia: A comprehensive review from HOPE Asia.

Stroke is the primary cause of disability and vascular death worldwide, including Asia. Asian characteristics that differ from the West lead to higher stroke incidence. Stroke epidemiology studies in Asia have shown varying levels of mortality, incidence, prevalence, and burden of disease.

The feasibility of polypill for cardiovascular disease prevention in Asian Population.

Polypill is a fixed-dose combination of medications with proven benefits for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Its role in CVD prevention has been extensively debated since the inception of this concept in 2003. There are two major kinds of polypills in clinical studies.

Asian management of hypertension: Current status, home blood pressure, and specific concerns in Philippines (a country report).

Incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the Philippines based on the Philippine Heart Association survey among hospital-based population showed hypertension as the highest (38.6%), followed by stroke (30%), coronary artery disease (CAD) (17.5%), and heart failure (10.

What is new in the 2018 Chinese hypertension guideline and the implication for the management of hypertension in Asia?

The new Chinese hypertension guideline comprehensively covers almost all major aspects in the management of hypertension. In this new guideline, hypertension remains defined as a systolic/diastolic blood pressure of at least 140/90 mm Hg. For risk assessment, a qualitative approach is used similarly as in previous Chinese guidelines according to the blood pressure level and the presence or absence of other risk factors, target organ damage, cardiovascular complications, and comorbid diseases.

An overview of hypertension and cardiac involvement in Asia: Focus on heart failure.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of deaths worldwide, contributing to about 30% of all deaths. Half of the cases of CVD are estimated in Asia, the world's most populous continent. Hypertension, a major modifiable risk factor for CVD, results in more deaths than any other CV risk factors in the Asian regions.

Highlights of the 2019 Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines and perspectives on the management of Asian hypertensive patients.

Unlike other international guidelines but in accord with the earlier Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH) guidelines, the 2019 JSH guidelines ("JSH 2019") continue to emphasize the importance of out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurements obtained with a home BP device. Another unique characteristic of JSH 2019 is that it sets clinical questions about the management of hypertension that are based on systematic reviews of updated evidence. JSH 2019 states that individuals with office BP < 140/90 mm Hg do not have normal BP.

Comparison of day-to-day blood pressure variability in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to those without diabetes: Asia BP@Home Study.

Blood pressure variability (BPV) has been shown to be independently associated with cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have also been shown to have increased BPV. We aimed to compare BPV in hypertensive patients with diabetes with those without diabetes.

The influence of the ambient temperature on blood pressure and how it will affect the epidemiology of hypertension in Asia.

Epidemiologic studies have consistently demonstrated an increased risk of cardiovascular disease during colder temperatures. Hemodynamic changes associated with cold temperature and an increase in thrombogenicity may both account for the increase in cardiovascular risk and mortality. Studies using both in-office and out-of-office BP measurements have consistently shown an elevation in BP during the colder seasons.

Central blood pressure for the management of hypertension: Is it a practical clinical tool in current practice?

Since noninvasive central blood pressure (BP) measuring devices are readily available, central BP has gained growing attention regarding its clinical application in the management of hypertension. The disagreement between central and peripheral BP has long been recognized. Some previous studies showed that noninvasive central BP may be better than the conventional brachial BP in association with target organ damages and long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

High blood pressure in dementia: How low can we go?

Hypertension is an important public health concern. The prevalence keeps increasing, and it is a risk factor for several adverse health outcomes including a decline in cognitive function. Recent data also show that the prevalence of hypertension and age-related dementia is rising in Asian countries, including in the oldest old group.

2020 Consensus summary on the management of hypertension in Asia from the HOPE Asia Network.

Hypertension professionals from Asia have been meeting together for the last decade to discuss how to improve the management of hypertension. Based on these education and research activities, the Hypertension, brain, cardiovascular and renal Outcome Prevention and Evidence in Asia (HOPE Asia) Network was officially established in June 2018 and includes experts from 12 countries/regions across Asia. Among the numerous research and review papers published by members of the HOPE Asia Network since 2017, publications in three key areas provide important guidance on the management of hypertension in Asia.

Diversity of and initiatives for hypertension management in Asia-Why we need the HOPE Asia Network.

The Hypertension Cardiovascular Outcome Prevention and Evidence in Asia (HOPE Asia) Network was set up to improve the management of hypertension in Asia with the ultimate goal of achieving "zero" cardiovascular events. Asia is a diverse continent, and the prevalence of hypertension has increased over the last 30 years. There are a number of Asia-specific features of hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular complications, which means that a region-specific approach is needed.

Target blood pressure and control status in Asia.

It is widely accepted that hypertension constitutes a significant cardiovascular risk factor and that treating high blood pressure (BP) effectively reduces cardiovascular risk. An important issue in Asia is not just the high prevalence of hypertension, particularly in some countries, but also the low level of awareness and treatment rates in many regions. The 2017 update of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guidelines raised the question about which BP threshold should be used to diagnose and treat hypertension.

Current status of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in Asian countries: A report from the HOPE Asia Network.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) can measure 24-hour blood pressure (BP), including nocturnal BP and diurnal variations. This feature of ABPM could be of value in Asian populations for preventing cardiovascular events. However, no study has yet investigated regarding the use of ABPM in actual clinical settings in Asian countries/regions.

Expert panel consensus recommendations for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in Asia: The HOPE Asia Network.

Hypertension is an important public health issue because of its association with a number of significant diseases and adverse outcomes. However, there are important ethnic differences in the pathogenesis and cardio-/cerebrovascular consequences of hypertension. Given the large populations and rapidly aging demographic in Asian regions, optimal strategies to diagnose and manage hypertension are of high importance.

Hypertension and Dementia: A comprehensive review from the HOPE Asia Network.

Approximately 365 million people in Asia were classified as elderly in 2017. This number is rising and expected to reach approximately 520 million by 2030. The risk of hypertension and cognitive impairment/dementia increases with age.