J. George Fodor

Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in Canada ☆

The Canadian Heart Health Surveys are cross-sectional, population-based cardiovascular disease risk factor surveys that took place in each of the 10 Canadian provinces between 1986 and 1992. Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control status are examined. Of 23,129 randomly selected, noninstitutionalized respondents aged 18 to 74 years, 85% had four blood pressure (BP) measurements taken under standardized conditions, two at home during a home interview and two at a following clinic visit. The mean of all available measurements was used to determine hypertension status. Estimates are weighted and represent population values. Only 2% of respondents had never had their BP checked, and 73% had had their BP checked in the last 12 months. A systolic or diastolic BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg was found in 22% of participants (26% of men, 18% of women), representing 4.1 million Canadians. Overall, 16% of participants were treated and controlled; 23% were treated and not controlled; 19% were not treated and not controlled; and 42% were unaware of their hypertension (47% of men and 35% of women). Among hypertensives 18 to 34 years old, 64% of men and 19% of women were unaware of their hypertension. Among treated and not controlled hypertensives 63% had a mean systolic BP > or = 150 mm Hg, and 29% a diastolic BP > or = 95 mm Hg, suggesting that an important number of Canadians treated for hypertension are still at increased risk. Despite frequent interactions with the health care system, too many Canadians are still not well controlled or are unaware of their hypertension.

Time trends in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the ‘old’ and ‘new’ European Union countries

Aims: There are large differences in all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality between eastern and western countries in Europe. We reviewed the development of these mortality trends in countries of the European Union (EU) over the past 40 years and evaluated available data regarding possible determinants of these differences. Methods and results: We summarized all-cause mortality and specific cardiovascular mortality for two country groups – 10 countries that joined the European Union (EU) after 2004 (East), and 15 countries that joined before 2004 (West). Standardized mortality rates were retrieved from the World Health Organization “European Health for All” database for each country between 1970 and 2007. Currently (in the 2000s), mortality due to circulatory system disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (CBVD), and all-causes in the ‘new’ EU countries (East) is approximately twice that in the ‘old’ EU countries (West). These differences were much smaller in the 1970s. The increasing gap in mortality between West and East is primarily the result of a continuous and rapid improvement in the West. Conclusion: Differences in lifestyle (i.e. diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and smoking) provide insufficient explanation for the observed mortality gap in these two groups of EU countries. Higher expenditures on health, better access to invasive and acute cardiac care, and better pharmacological control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in the West are well documented. Socioeconomic and psychosocial factors may also contribute to the changes in mortality trends.

Treatment of Raised Blood Pressure in the Population: The Canadian Experience

The Canadian Heart Health Survey, in which all 10 Canadian provinces participated using a standardized protocol, provides data from 23,129 randomly selected participants. The hypertension component of this survey indicates a prevalence of 22%; among these hypertensives, 59% were aware of their elevated blood pressure status. The breakdown of aware hypertensives indicates that 16% of those were treated and controlled, 24% were treated but not controlled, and 19% were neither treated nor controlled. In terms of drug prescription pattern, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, including angiotensin II antagonists, command the maximum market share of 27.7% (

Hypertension control in community health centers across China: analysis of antihypertensive drug treatment patterns.

36 million), followed by diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta3-blockers, and others. Although hypertension awareness and control have improved in the past 25 years, sustained efforts are warranted to control hypertension in Canada.

High Prevalence of Prehypertension and Hypertension in a Working Population in Hungary

BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) control in China is generally poor. It is assumed that an important cause of this unsatisfactory situation is the present standard of care provided by primary care physicians. METHODS One thousand community health centers (CHCs) were selected across China based on geographical location, previous cooperative experience, and acceptance of an invitation to implement a standardized protocol of community-based BP management. Baseline information for each hypertensive patient under the care of these CHCs was collected, and the present pattern of hypertensive drug treatment was analyzed. RESULTS Of all identified hypertensive patients (n = 249,830), 37% were treated with drugs. Characteristics linked with hypertension treatment included systolic BP, age, sex, region, smoking and alcohol consumption status, body mass index, comorbidities, and family history. The most frequently prescribed classes of antihypertensive drugs were diuretics (56.0%), followed by centrally active drugs (CADs) (38.3%), calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (36.8%), vasodilators (26.5%), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (23.3%). In regards to drug combination patterns, diuretics plus CADs was the most frequently used 2-drug combination (61.4%) and vasodilators plus CADs plus diuretics was the most frequently used 3-drug therapy (69.2%). Seventy-seven percent of patients on combination therapy were prescribed single pill combinations, 87.2% of which were composed of CADs and vasodilators and 12.8% of which were composed of ACEIs and diuretics. The control rates of patients on monotherapy and combination therapy were 27.7% and 24.1% (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified major shortcomings in the present status of antihypertensive pharmacotherapy in routine medical practice in China. It is essential to implement a program of professional education regarding the appropriate use of antihypertensive drugs.

Blood Pressure Awareness in Austria: Lessons From a 30 Years Horizon

BACKGROUND Hungary has one of the highest mortality rates due to strokes among the European Union countries. As elevated blood pressure (BP) is the principal risk factor for strokes, we assessed BP levels, as well as awareness and treatment status of hypertension and prehypertension in a working population sample in Hungary. METHODS Worksite employees in Budapest and Szeged were screened for their BP using an automated BP measuring instrument (BpTRU). BpTRU readings of heart rate (HR) were also recorded. Respondents were classified as normotensives (NT), prehypertensives (PHTN) and hypertensives (HTN) according to their BP levels, as defined by the JNC 7 guidelines. Body height and body weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Self-reported information regarding smoking was collected. RESULTS In total, 2,012 respondents were recruited (1,000 white collar; 1,012 blue-collar workers), with a mean (±s.d.) age of 34.8 (±9.9) years. Of all respondents, 22.6% were identified as HTN and 39.8% as PHTN. Among HTN, 40% were unaware of their condition and only 18.5% were adequately treated. PHTN were similar in age as NT, but showed significantly higher HR. CONCLUSIONS A high proportion of relatively young and apparently healthy Hungarian employees were diagnosed with prehypertension and hypertension. Only a small proportion of HTN had their BP controlled. BMI and HR were significantly higher among individuals with prehypertension compared to NT. Whether the high rates of hypertension, prehypertension, and low levels of control explain the high stroke mortality and unfavorable cardiovascular disease (CVD) profile of Hungary needs further study.

Nisoldipine CC and lisinopril alone or in combination for treatment of mild to moderate systemic hypertension

BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) awareness is a main focus of public health efforts. In Austria, an increase of knowledge and perception regarding hypertension was seen after a nationwide educational campaign in 1978, but subsequent surveys documented only short-term impact. We report results of the latest survey in 2009 in comparison to 1978 and 1998. METHODS Balanced for Austrian demographic characteristics 1,005 men and women older than 15 years of age were randomly selected for face-to-face interviews about BP awareness, risk factors, and hazards of hypertension and treatment options including life-style interventions. RESULTS Overall, 15% identified themselves as hypertensive, which is similar to results from 1978 (14%) but significantly higher than 1998 (12%; P < 0.01). The proportion of hypertensives not undertaking any measure (i.e., pharmacotherapy or life-style changes) significantly decreased since 1998 (5% vs. 10%; P < 0.0001). Thirty-three percent recalled to have measured their BP within the last 3 months, which is comparable to 1998 (34%) but lower than in 1978 (49%) after the nationwide educational BP campaign (P < 0.0001). Alarmingly, an unchanged proportion of 8% reported no BP measurement ever (1978 and 1998: 8%, respectively). Sixty-one percent believed they would be able to clearly identify symptoms of hypertension, while only 19% knew that hypertension might not be noticeable. Heart attack and stroke were considered the most common sequelae of hypertension. CONCLUSION Despite a high understanding of the risks of hypertension among the Austrian population, a widespread misconception regarding BP symptoms and infrequent personal checks are worrisome and might also be valid in other Western countries.

Workplace physical activity interventions and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity levels among working-age women: a systematic review protocol.

The efficacy and safety of nisoldipine CC and lisinopril were compared in 278 patients with mild to moderate systemic hypertension in a double-blind, placebo run-in trial. Patients were randomized to nisoldipine CC or lisinopril for 8 weeks to achieve a trough sitting diastolic blood pressure (BP) ≤90 mmHg. Responders were maintained on their optimal dose for a further 8 weeks. Nonresponders were switched to combination therapy and treated for 8 weeks. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was carried out during placebo and monotherapy. The responder rate of 73.8% with nisoldipine CC after 8 weeks was greater than 56.1% with lisinopril (p = 0.007). The responder rate with combination therapy was 61%. ABPM showed that both nisoldipine CC and lisinopril produced constant blood pressure lowering effects over the 24-hour period and maintained circadian rhythm. Adverse effects were more frequent with nisoldipine CC (headache and peripheral edema) than with lisinopril (cough) monotherapy. Nisoldipine CC monotherapy was at least as effective as lisinopril monotherapy in the management of mild to moderate hypertension. Both agents were well tolerated. Combination therapy with nisoldipine CC and lisinopril was effective and well tolerated in patients with blood pressure not controlled by monotherapy alone.

Nisoldipine CC: Efficacy and tolerability in hypertension and ischemic heart disease

BackgroundThe rapid pace of modern life requires working-age women to juggle occupational, family and social demands. This modern lifestyle has been shown to have a detrimental effect on health, often associated with increased smoking and alcohol consumption, depression and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Despite the proven benefits of regular moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), few are meeting the current physical activity (PA) recommendations of 150 min of MVPA/week. It is important that appropriate and effective behavioural interventions targeting PA are developed and identified to improve the MVPA levels of working-age women. As these women spend a substantial proportion of their waking hours at work, workplaces may be an opportune, efficient and relatively controlled setting to implement programmes and strategies to target PA in an effort to improve MVPA levels and impact cardiometabolic health. The purposes of this systematic review are to compare the effectiveness of individual-level workplace interventions for increasing MVPA levels in working-age women in high-income/developed countries and examine the effectiveness of these interventions for improving the known beneficial health sequelae of MVPA.Methods/DesignEight electronic databases will be searched to identify all prospective cohort and experimental studies that examine the impact of individual-level workplace interventions for increasing MVPA levels among working-age (mean age 18–65 years) women from high-income/developed countries. Grey literature including theses, dissertations and government reports will also be included. Study quality will be assessed using a modified Downs and Black checklist, and risk of bias will be assessed within and across all included studies using the Cochrane’s risk of bias tool and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Meta-analyses will be conducted where possible among studies with sufficient homogeneity.DiscussionThis review will determine the effectiveness of individual-level workplace interventions for increasing MVPA levels in working-age women in high-income/developed countries, and form a current, rigorous and reliable research base for policy makers and stakeholders to support the development and implementation of effective workplace interventions that increase MVPA levels in this population.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42014009704

Response to "Antihypertensive prescriptions in China".

SummaryNisoldipine is a second-generation dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB). It is the most vascular selective of the currently available CCBs, and thus has the capacity to lower blood pressure without affecting the functioning of the myocardium and skeletal muscle, and without producing any negative inotropic effects. Nisoldipine coat core (CC) is an extended-release formulation that allows nisoldipine to be released gradually over 24 hours, minimizing fluctuations in plasma concentration and providing a good trough/peak ratio. It has a slow onset and long duration of action, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has demonstrated that its antihypertensive effect is maintained over 24 hours with no evidence of reflex tachycardia, hypotension, or sympathetic neurohormonal activation and no effects on circadian variation. Studies in patients with hypertension have shown that nisoldipine CC provides reductions in blood pressure that are at least equivalent to those seen with diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and other CCBs, without deleterious effects on metabolic parameters. In particular, it has been found to be effective in elderly patients and in black patients with severe hypertension. The DEFIANT studies have demonstrated that nisoldipine CC improves cardiac function and exercise tolerance in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction, with out increasing the risk of mortality compared with placebo. It also improves exercise performance in patients with stable angina pectoris. Nisoldipine CC is well tolerated in all groups of patients, with the most frequently reported side effects being headache and peripheral edema, which are usually mild and transient.