Subgroup and per-protocol analyses from the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial.

Background: The results of the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial showed positive benefits from blood pressure-lowering treatment in those aged 80 and over.

Method: An analysis by the pre-specified subgroups [age, sex, history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and initial SBP] was performed. The Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 3845 participants aged 80 and over with SBPs of 160-199 mmHg and diastolic pressures below 110 mmHg recruited from Europe, China, Australasia and Tunisia.

Association of left ventricular mass with the AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism.

Background: The A1166C polymorphism is located within the microRNA-155 binding site of the human angiotensin II (Ang II) type-1 receptor (AGTR1) gene. The C allele interferes with the base-pairing complementariness between AGTR1 mRNA and microRNA-155 and thereby increases AGTR1 protein expression in vitro. We hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) mass is associated with the AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism.

Superiority of ambulatory over clinic blood pressure measurement in predicting mortality: the Dublin outcome study.

The purpose of this study was to determine if ambulatory blood pressure measurement predicted total and cardiovascular mortality over and beyond clinic blood pressure measurement and other cardiovascular risk factors; 5292 untreated hypertensive patients referred to a single blood pressure clinic who had clinic and ambulatory blood pressure measurement at baseline were followed up in a prospective study of mortality outcome. Multiple Cox regression was used to model time to total and cause-specific mortality for ambulatory blood pressure measurement while adjusting for clinic blood pressure measurement and other risk factors at baseline. There were 646 deaths (of which 389 were cardiovascular) during a median follow-up period of 8.

Results of the pilot study for the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial.

Background: The risks and benefits of treating hypertension in individuals older than 80 years are uncertain. A meta-analysis has suggested that a reduction in stroke events of 36% may have to be balanced against a 14% increase in total mortality.

Objectives: To report the results of the pilot study of the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET), which is in progress to address these issues.

Terminal digit preference and single-number preference in the Syst-Eur trial: influence of quality control.

Background: Terminal digit and single-number preference may produce inaccuracy and biased results when measuring blood pressure. We describe these preferences in the Syst-Eur randomized placebo-controlled trial of the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension and describe how we sought to eliminate these problems.

Methods: The Data Monitoring Committee of the trial conducted yearly quality control meetings in Belgium and visited the participating centres to check their adherence to the protocol.