Posterior Reversible Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome During Hypertensive Crisis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Searching for a Link.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) may present with different clinical symptoms including visual disturbance, headache, seizures and impaired consciousness. Brain MRI shows oedema, usually involving the posterior subcortical regions. Triggering factors include hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Predictive role of triglyceride-glucose index and HOMA index on development of arterial stiffening in non-diabetic men.

Background And Aims: Insulin resistance (IR) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recently, a novel index (triglyceride-glucose index-TyG) has been proposed as a surrogate marker of IR and a better expression of IR than the Homeostatic Model Assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index. Few and heterogeneous data are so far available on the relationship between vascular damage and this novel index.

Management of patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease referred to Hypertension Excellence Centres among 27 countries. On behalf of the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Hypertension and the Kidney.

Objective Real-life management of patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centres (ESH-ECs) is unclear : we aimed to investigate it. Methods A survey was conducted in 2023. The questionnaire contained 64 questions asking ESH-ECs representatives to estimate how patients with CKD are managed.

May Measure Month 2022 in Italy: A Focus on Fixed-dose Combination, Therapeutic Adherence, and Medical Inertia in a Nationwide Survey.

Introduction: Hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Notably, only about half of hypertensive patients manage to achieve the recommended blood pressure (BP) control. Main reasons for the persistence of uncontrolled BP during treatment are lack of compliance on the patients' side, and therapeutic inertia on physicians' side.

Triglyceride-Glucose Index, HOMA Index and metabolic syndrome in a sample of adult men.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components are directly associated with cardiovascular risk. Insulin resistance (IR) is the most common pathophysiological feature of MetS. A novel index, the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), is considered a surrogate marker of IR.

Orthostatic hypotension: Review and expert position statement.

Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure of at least 20mmHg or a drop in diastolic blood pressure of at least 10mmHg within 3minutes of standing. It is a common disorder, especially in high-risk populations such as elderly subjects and patients with neurological diseases, and is associated with markedly increased morbidity and mortality. Its management can be challenging, particularly in cases where supine hypertension is associated with severe orthostatic hypotension.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Related Medical and Lifestyle Interventions Among Italian Cardiovascular Specialists: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Introduction: Physicians and researchers in the cardiovascular field are constantly engaged in the promotion of guidelines-directed preventive measures, but whether they are themselves adherent to the same recommendations was only sporadically examined.

Aim: To assess awareness of self-exposure to cardiovascular risk factors and related management among cardiovascular specialists.

Methods: During the National Conference of the Italian Society of Hypertension (October 2022), a pilot observational study on consecutive volunteer cardiovascular specialists was conducted.

Management of arterial hypertension: home blood pressure measurement is a cornerstone for telemonitoring and self-management.

The development of mobile telephones has made it possible to design blood pressure (BP) monitors with data transmission via cellular lines, contributing to the emergence of "e-health". Today, the direct-to-consumer marketing of devices create a new context allowing an algorithmic processing of information for remote decision-making either by the patient or by a healthcare professional. The home BP telemonitoring (HBPT) is the remote transmission of BP values, measured at home and transmitted to the doctor's office or hospital, by means of telehealth strategies.

Impact of 2021 ESC Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention on Hypertensive Patients Risk: Secondary Analysis of Save Your Heart Study.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of death worldwide, and several modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors contribute to this burden of disability and mortality. Thus, effective cardiovascular prevention relies on appropriate strategies to control risk factors within the frame of unmodifiable traits.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of treated hypertensive adults aged ≥ 50 years enrolled in Save Your Heart.

Benefit of treatment based on indapamide mostly combined with perindopril on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes: a pooled analysis of four trials.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the reduction in all-cause death and cardiovascular outcomes associated with the administration of the thiazide-like diuretic indapamide monotherapy or in combination with perindopril as a blood pressure lowering drug in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Method: Aggregate data from four published RCTs conducted versus matching placebo were pooled: PATS, a 2-year study (indapamide), and PROGRESS, a 4-year study (indapamide and perindopril), both in patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack; ADVANCE, a 4-year study in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factor (single-pill combination perindopril/indapamide) and HYVET, a 2-year study in very elderly hypertensive individuals (indapamide and an option of perindopril). The pooled effect (fixed and random) estimate (hazard ratio) was reported with corresponding 95% confidence intervals and P values.

Nephroangiosclerosis not related to hypertension: A matter to resolve in the era of precision medicine.

Nephroangiosclerosis (NAS) associated with hypertension continues to be one of the most causes of end stage renal diseases in Europe, but it is still poorly studied. The prevalence of NAS shows a large variability due to the difference among different countries regarding clinical presentations and the indication to perform renal biopsy. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence in biopsy-proven NAS patients and the association with hypertension and/or glomerulonephritis (GN).

Hypertension and mortality in SARS-COV-2 infection: A meta-analysis of observational studies after 2 years of pandemic.

Background: The worldwide pandemic SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with clinical course including a very broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, including death. Several studies and meta-analyses have evaluated the role of hypertension on prognosis, but with important limitations and conflicting results. Therefore, we decided to perform a new meta-analysis of the observational studies that explored the relationship between pre-existing hypertension and mortality risk in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, using more stringent inclusion criteria to overcome the limitations inherent previous meta-analyses.

White coat hypertension is another clinical characteristic of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A cross-sectional study.

In this cross-sectional study, our aim was to analyze association of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) values with pulse wave velocity (PWV) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients as well as the prevalence and characteristics of white coat hypertension (WCH) in this group of patients with chronic inflammation and high prevalence of anxiety. We enrolled 120 consecutive IBD patients (77 Crohn´s disease; 43 ulcerative colitis) who were not treated with antihypertensive drugs without cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal morbidity. Office blood pressure, ABPM, and PWV were measured with Omrom M6, SpaceLab 90207, and Arteriograph, respectively.

Home Blood Pressure Measurement and Self-Interpretation of Blood Pressure Readings During Pregnancy: Hy-Result e-Health Prospective Study.

Introduction: Hy-Result is a rule management system designed to help patients to be compliant with the home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) monitoring schedule and to understand their BP readings. The aim of the Hy-Result e-Health prospective study is to evaluate the practice and experience of women using the Hy-Result coaching app for self-interpretation of BP readings during and after pregnancy.

Methods: Participants were asked to: i) measure their BP at home; ii) use the Hy-Result app and send their PDF report to the researcher; iii) answer anonymously to 3 online independent questionnaires (Q).

World Hypertension Day 2021 in Italy: Results of a Nationwide Survey.

Introduction: Hypertension is the biggest contributor to the global burden of cardiovascular diseases and related death, but the rates of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control remain largely perfectible.

Methods: During the XVII World Hypertension Day (May 17th, 2021), a nationwide cross-sectional opportunistic study endorsed by the Italian Society of Hypertension was conducted on volunteer adults ≥ 18 years to raise awareness of high blood pressure (BP). A questionnaire on major demographic/clinical features (sex, age, employment, education, BP status awareness, hypertension family/personal history, antihypertensive medications use) and BP measurement habits (≥1 BP measurement in the previous month/week) was administered.

Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) Prevalence Among Hypolipidemic Treatment- naïve Patients with Hypertension.

Background: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) predisposes to the future development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may also be associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Hypertension is an established CVD risk factor.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IFG and the associated anthropometric and metabolic disturbances in patients with hypertension.

Recurrent pericarditis is less scary: the new therapeutic solutions.

Pericarditis is a common inflammatory disease affecting the pericardial sac, resulting from a variety of stimuli that trigger a stereotyped immune response. Generally self-limiting, this condition can be burdened by a significant risk of acute complications and relapses, with recurrence rates affecting up to 30% of patients, especially in the case of diagnostic and therapeutic delay. Therapeutic options in recurrent forms, initially based only on the use of traditional drugs such as colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids, have recently been enriched with new molecules, such as interleukin 1 blockers anakinra and rilonacept, particularly indicated in refractory forms dependent on corticosteroids.

Isolated systolic hypertension of the young and sodium intake.

Isolated systolic hypertension is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Despite being the most common form of hypertension in the elderly, it is also detectable among young and middle-aged subjects. Dietary salt (sodium chloride) intake is an important determinant of blood pressure, and high salt intake is associated with greater risk of hypertension and cardiovascular events.

Metabolic syndrome and its components predict the development of arterial stiffening in a sample of adult men.

Background And Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components are associated with greater cardiovascular risk. A number of studies found a positive association between MS and vascular damage, but few observational studies evaluated the predictive role of MS on arterial stiffening (AS). Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the ability of MS and its components to predict the risk of AS in an 8-year follow-up of a sample of adult men (Olivetti Heart Study).

Serum leptin is associated with increased pulse pressure and the development of arterial stiffening in adult men: results of an eight-year follow-up study.

High leptin levels are associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic risk profile. A number of studies found a positive association between leptin and vascular damage, but to date, no observational study has evaluated a potential predictive role of leptin for arterial stiffening. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the role of leptin in the incidence of arterial stiffening (pulse pressure >60 mmHg) and changes in pulse pressure in an 8-year follow-up of a sample of adult men (The Olivetti Heart Study).

European Society of Hypertension position paper on renal denervation 2021.

This ESH Position Paper 2021 with updated proposed recommendations was deemed necessary after the publication of a set of new pivotal sham-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs), which provided important information about the efficacy and safety of endovascular device-based renal denervation (RDN) for hypertension treatment. RDN is effective in reducing or interrupting the sympathetic signals to the kidneys and decreasing whole body sympathetic activity. Five independent, fully completed, sham-controlled RCTs provide conclusive evidence that RDN lowers ambulatory and office blood pressure (BP) to a significantly greater extent than sham treatment.