Antihypertensive drug classes have different effects on short-term blood pressure variability in essential hypertension.

Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) contributes to end-organ damage, cardiovascular events and mortality associated with hypertension. In a cohort of 2780 hypertensive patients treated by either calcium channel blockers (CCBs), diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or β-blockers alone or in combination, we compared indices of short-term BPV according to the different treatments. Short-term BPV was calculated as the standard deviation (s.

Antihypertensive classes, cognitive decline and incidence of dementia: a network meta-analysis.

Objectives: Prevention of cognitive decline and dementia with blood pressure lowering treatments has shown inconsistent results. We compared the effects of different classes of antihypertensive drugs on the incidence of dementia, and on cognitive function.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and included 19 randomized trials (18 515 individuals) and 11 studies (831 674 individuals) analysing the effects of antihypertensive treatment on cognition and on the incidence of dementia, respectively, in hypertensive patients without prior cerebrovascular disorders.

Crucial importance of using a sliding calliper to measure distance for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity assessment.

Background And Objectives: In the past, different methods have been used to measure the carotid-femoral distance for the assessment of pulse wave velocity (PWV). However, the latest consensus published advises to use 80% of the direct straight carotid-femoral distance (D(0.8)) using either a flexible tape or a sliding calliper.