Risk of Adverse Health Outcomes in Patients with Poor Adherence to Cardiovascular Medication Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Medication adherence is an important issue in managing chronic CVD, directly influencing outcomes and healthcare costs.

Objectives: This systematic review, supported by the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, evaluates the impact of poor adherence to cardiovascular medications on critical clinical outcomes such as death and cardiovascular events.

Osteoprotegerin and Vascular Dysfunction in Patients with Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease and Those without Renal Dysfunction: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a marker of vascular calcification and cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: This study aimed to compare and correlate OPG values with flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements in patients in stage 3 CKD and those without renal dysfunction.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted in a specialized hypertension center in 2022.

A Program to Optimize the Detection of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: The RITMO Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrythmia, but still underdiagnosed especially among asymptomatic patients.

Objectives: To evaluate a simple strategy to optimize the identification of AF.

Methods: Asymptomatic patients aged 65 years or older, with hypertension or heart failure (HF), were included.

The usefulness of SAGE score in predicting high pulse wave velocity in hypertensive patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Aortic stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an important predictor to evaluate the risk of hypertensive patients. However, it is underutilized in clinical practice. We aimed to identify the optimal cutoff SAGE score that would indicate a risk PWV ≥ 10 m/s in Brazilian ambulatory hypertensive patients.

Intracranial pressure waveform in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: There is a strong association between hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases, but most of the mechanistic bases to justify this correlation remains misunderstood.

Objective: To evaluate intracranial pressure waveform in long-term essential hypertensive patients with a non-invasive device, brain4care (b4c).

Methods: Cross-sectional study in patients with hypertension.

Pulse Wave Velocity of 8.2 m/s as a Threshold Associated with Cardiovascular Target Organ Damage Presence.

Background: Previous studies have established normal and reference values for Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). However, the PWV value that has the strongest association with cardiovascular biomarkers remains poorly understood.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the PWV value more likely to be associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), increased intima-media thickness (IMT), and presence of carotid plaques in patients with hypertension.

Pharmacological treatment of hypertension guided by peripheral or central blood pressure: a comparison between the two strategies.

Background: Arterial hypertension treatment guided by central blood pressures (CPB) rather than peripheral blood pressures (PBP) measurement has the potential to show greater effectiveness in preventing or even regressing stiffness and target organ damage (TOD).

Objective: This study aimed to compare the parameters of CBP and PBP measurements, arterial stiffness, TOD and renal profile in patients with anti-hypertensive treatment guided by CBP or PBP targets.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in central group (CG) and peripheral group (PG).

National Registry of Hypertension Control Evaluated by Office and Home Measurements: The LHAR National Registry.

Background: It is known that around 30% of patients have higher blood pressure (BP) values when examined at the office than at home. Worldwide, only 35% of patients with hypertension undergoing treatment have reached their BP targets.

Objective: To provide epidemiological data on BP control in the offices of a sample of Brazilian cardiologists, considering office and home BP measurement.

SAGE Score in Normotensive and Pre-Hypertensive Patients: A Proof of Concept.

Background: The SAGE score was developed to detect individuals at risk for increased pulse wave velocity (PWV). So far, studies have been focused on hypertensive patients.

Objective: To assess the ability of the score to detect non-hypertensive and pre-hypertensive patients at risk for increased PWV.

Vascular Aging and Arterial Stiffness.

Biological aging occurs as a result of the interaction between genetics, chronological age and external factors. It is the basis for new concepts of vascular aging, whose progression is determined by the difference between biological and chronological age. From the structural point of view, the effects of vascular aging are more evident in the tunica media of large elastic arteries, marked by increased arterial stiffness, lumen dilation and wall thickness.

Factors associated with uncontrolled blood pressure in hypertensive Brazilians.

Uncontrolled hypertension has a high prevalence and is related to numerous negative health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the lack of blood pressure control in hypertensive Brazilians treated in public and private services. This is an analytical, multicentric, and national cross-sectional study, carried out with adult hypertensive patients, monitored in 45 outpatient clinics (September 2013 to October 2015) in a prospective record interview, clinical, and anthropometric assessment.

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Evaluated by Office and Home Blood Pressure Measurements. TeleHBPM Study.

Background: Adequate treatment of arterial hypertension and achieving arterial hypertension goals in are important in reducing cardiovascular outcomes.

Objectives: To describe angiotensin receptor blockers in monotherapy or double combination therapy and the rate of arterial hypertension control.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated patients who were using angiotensin receptor blockers between 2017 and 2020.

Antihypertensive effect of Equisetum arvense L.: a double-blind, randomized efficacy and safety clinical trial.

Background: Equisetum arvense L. (EA) is a traditional phytomedicine used as a diuretic agent worldwide and regulated strictly by European Medicine Agency (EMA) and Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). However, few studies evaluating its efficacy and safety have been published and no clinical trial assessing its antihypertensive effect has been reported to date.

Comparison between the Effects of Hymalaian Salt and Common Salt Intake on Urinary Sodium and Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Individuals.

Background: The Himalayan salt (HS) has become a popular alternative for the traditional table salt (TS) due to its health benefit claims, particularly for individuals with arterial hypertension. However, despite the increase in HS consumption, there is still a lack of clinical evidence to support a recommendation for its consumption by health professionals.

Objective: This cross-over study aimed to compare the impact of HS and TS intake on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and urinary sodium concentration in individuals with arterial hypertension.

Validation study of the use of the HRVCAM software for the evaluation of heart rate and heart rate variability at rest.

Aims: The existing instruments for assessing heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) require contact area. This is difficult to obtain from specific groups of patients and from those moving. The aim of this study was to validate the use of the HRVCam software for measuring HR and HRV in healthy adults.

A SAGE score cutoff that predicts high-pulse wave velocity as measured by oscillometric devices in Brazilian hypertensive patients.

We aimed to identify the optimal cutoff SAGE score for Brazilian hypertensive patients who had their pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured with oscillometric devices. A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent central blood pressure measurement using a validated oscillometric device, the Mobil-O-Graph® (IEM, Stolberg, Germany), between 2012 and 2019 was performed. Patients with arterial hypertension and available data on all SAGE parameters were selected.