Effect of nebivolol monotherapy or combination therapy on blood pressure levels in patients with hypertension: an updated systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of 91 randomized controlled trials.

Aims: To systematically appraise and summarize the available evidence from published randomized controlled trials considering the effect of nebivolol on blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

Methods: Literature search was performed through Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane Library and Scopus until December 15, 2023. Double-independent study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were performed.

Effect of DASH vs. mediterranean diet accompanied by a salt restriction on metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with high normal blood pressure or grade 1 hypertension: secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Lifestyle interventions are recommended as the first-line treatment to control metabolic syndrome components and improve cardiometabolic risk factors. However, studies directly comparing the cardiometabolic effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) vs. the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) accompanied by salt restriction are currently lacking.

Management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a Position Statement of the European Society of Hypertension Working Group 'Hypertension in Women'.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP), remain the leading cause of adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Epidemiological factors, comorbidities, assisted reproduction techniques, placental disorders, and genetic predisposition determine the burden of the disease. The pathophysiological substrate and the clinical presentation of HDP are multifarious.

Atrial fibrillation in the setting of cardiac amyloidosis - A review of the literature.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is related to the aggregation of insoluble fibrous deposits of misfolded proteins within the myocardium. Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) and immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis are the main forms of CA. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in CA patients, especially in those with ATTR amyloidosis.

Rationale for the Inclusion of β-Blockers Among Major Antihypertensive Drugs in the 2023 European Society of Hypertension Guidelines.

We address the reasons why, unlike other guidelines, in the 2023 guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension β-blockers (BBs) have been regarded as major drugs for the treatment of hypertension, at the same level as diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and blockers of the renin-angiotensin system. We argue that BBs, (1) reduce blood pressure (the main factor responsible for treatment-related protection) not less than other drugs, (2) reduce pooled cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in placebo-controlled trials, in which there has also been a sizeable reduction of all major cause-specific cardiovascular outcomes, (3) have been associated with a lower global cardiovascular protection in 2 but not in several other comparison trials, in which the protective effect of BBs versus the other major drugs has been similar or even greater, with a slightly smaller or no difference of global benefit in large trial meta-analyses and a similar protective effect when comparisons extend to BBs in combination versus other drug combinations. We mention the large number of cardiac and other comorbidities for which BBs are elective drugs, and we express criticism against the exclusion of BBs because of their lower protective effect against stroke in comparison trials, because, for still uncertain reasons, differences in protection against cause-specific events (stroke, heart failure, and coronary disease) have been reported for other major drugs.

Revisiting Cardiovascular Benefits of Blood Pressure Reduction in Primary and Secondary Prevention: Focus on Targets and Residual Risk-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Previous meta-analyses resurrected the debated statement "the lower, the better" following blood pressure (BP)-lowering treatment. We investigated the benefits of BP-lowering treatment at different BP targets by prevention category.

Methods: The meta-analysis protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022379249).

Anti-ischemic and pleiotropic effects of ranolazine in chronic coronary syndromes.

The vast majority of antianginal drugs decrease heart rate and or blood pressure levels or the inotropic status of the left ventricle to decrease myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) and thus anginal symptoms. Ranolazine presents a completely different mechanism of action, which reduces the sodium-dependent calcium overload inhibiting the late sodium current. Current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of angina in patients with chronic coronary symptoms recommend the use of several drugs such as ranolazine, b-blockers, calcium channel blockers, long-acting nitrates, ivabradine, nicorandil and trimetazidine for angina relief.

One-year outcomes following a hypertensive urgency or emergency.

There are scarce data on the comparative prognosis between patients with hypertensive emergencies (HE), urgencies (HU), and those without HU or HE (HP). Our study aimed to compare cardiovascular (CV) outcomes of HE, HU, and HP during a 12-month follow-up period. The population consisted of 353 consecutive patients presenting with HE or HU in a third-care emergency department and subsequently referred to our hypertension center for follow-up.

DASH vs. Mediterranean diet on a salt restriction background in adults with high normal blood pressure or grade 1 hypertension: A randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Non-pharmacological measures are recommended as the first-line treatment for individuals with high-normal blood pressure (BP) or mild hypertension. Studies directly comparing the BP effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) vs. the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on a salt restriction background are currently lacking.

Distinct Features of Vascular Diseases in COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared in early 2020 after several unexplained pneumonia cases were first reported in Wuhan, China, and subsequently in other parts of the world. Commonly, the disease comprises several clinical features, including high temperature, dry cough, shortness of breath, and hypoxia, associated with findings of interstitial pneumonia on chest X-ray and computer tomography. Nevertheless, severe forms of acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not limited to the respiratory tract but also may be extended to other systems, including the cardiovascular system.

Preexisting hypertension and cancer therapy: evidence, pathophysiology, and management recommendation.

Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. At the same time, hypertension is recognized as one of the most common comorbidities in cancer patients. Antineoplastic therapies, mainly tyrosine kinase and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, have been associated with new-onset hypertension by activation of different pathophysiological pathways.

Sex and gender in hypertension guidelines.

This paper reviews 11 current and previous international and some selected national hypertension guidelines regarding sex and gender-related differences. Those differences can be attributed to biological sex and to gender differences that are determined by socially constructed norms. All reviewed guidelines agree on a higher hypertension prevalence in men than in women.

Sex-related cardiovascular prognosis in patients with hypertensive emergencies: a 12-month study.

Current evidence on the prognosis of patients with a hypertensive crisis and predisposing factors is limited. We registered the clinical phenotype of patients with HC admitted to the emergency department, while those with a hypertensive emergency (HE) were hospitalized. One-year outcomes, i.

Net clinical benefit of PFO closure versus medical treatment in patients with cryptogenic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The ideal treatment for patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic stroke remains controversial and is being evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the net clinical benefit (NCB) between PFO closure and medical treatment.

Methods: We searched three electronic databases from inception until January 2022.

Effects of ranolazine on various outcomes in patients with stable angina: an updated meta-analysis.

Objective: We determined the effect of ranolazine vs. placebo in angina patients on 1) selective measures of the ischemic burden, 2) cardiovascular outcomes, including atrial fibrillation incidence, 3) the in-treatment glycohemoglobin levels and the permanent discontinuations because of side effects, and 4) the achieved between-arms blood pressure and heart rate difference.

Methods: PubMed and Cochrane Collaboration Library databases were searched for eligible trials until end of September 2020.

Net clinical benefit of DOACs vs. usual anticoagulation treatment in venous thromboembolism and active cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients with active cancer are at high risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). Usual treatment includes low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), while vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have also been used as substitutes for LMWH. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are considered a beneficial alternative to the usual treatment but are accompanied by an increased rate of bleeding compared to LMWH.

Air Pollution and Home Blood Pressure: The 2021 Athens Wildfires.

Introduction: Fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM) in the ambient air has been associated with increased blood pressure (BP) levels and new-onset hypertension. However, the association of BP with a sudden upsurge of PM in extreme conditions has not yet been demonstrated.

Are pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders so sweet?

Worldwide, one in seven pregnancies is complicated by some form of diabetes, with a rising trend. Additionally, hypertension is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality for both the pregnant woman and the fetus and also contributes to premature birth. In a cohort study of pregnant women with diabetes, which was recently published in this journal, at least 84.

Fatty liver index and cardiovascular outcomes in never-treated hypertensive patients: a prospective cohort.

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing rapidly worldwide, affecting 25-30% of the population. Fatty liver index (FLI) is a validated marker of NAFLD and can be used as a screening tool for hepatic steatosis. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between FLI and the risk of major cardiovascular events in never treated hypertensive patients.