BP Levels (bp + level)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Blood Pressure Level and Outcomes in Adults Aged 65 and Older with Prior Ischemic Stroke

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 9 2006
Robert C. Kaplan PhD
OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between blood pressure (BP) levels and long-term stroke outcomes in elderly stroke survivors. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) of 5,888 community-dwelling adults. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-four adults aged 65 and older (mean age 78.6) who sustained a nonfatal first ischemic stroke. MEASUREMENTS: BP levels assessed at prestroke and poststroke CHS visits were examined as predictors of stroke recurrence, coronary heart disease (CHD), combined vascular events (CVEs), and mortality. RESULTS: Higher poststroke BP level, assessed 261.6 days (mean) after stroke, was associated with higher risk of stroke recurrence over 5.4 years (mean) of follow-up. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio for stroke recurrence was 1.42 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03,1.99) per standard deviation (SD) of systolic BP (P=.04) and 1.39 (95% CI=1.01,1.91) per SD of diastolic BP (P=.04). Mortality was significantly greater in patients with low or high poststroke BP than in those with intermediate BP. Poststroke BP was not associated with risk of CHD or CVE, although further analyses suggested that high systolic BP predicted CHD and CVE in younger but not older subjects. Prestroke BP did not predict poststroke outcomes. CONCLUSION: In this observational study of adults aged 65 and older assessed approximately 8 months after stroke, low BP was associated with favorable risk of recurrent stroke, although high and low poststroke BP levels were associated with greater mortality. Long-term antihypertensive trials in older stroke survivors would increase knowledge about the benefits of lowering BP in this population. [source]


Emerging Insights in the First-Step Use of Antihypertensive Combination Therapy

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 2007
Keith Norris MD
The blood pressure (BP) goals set by hypertension management guidelines (<140/90 mm Hg in uncomplicated hypertension; <130/80 mm Hg in type 2 diabetes or kidney disease) are not being achieved in a high proportion of patients, partly because monotherapy is insufficient in many patients. In particular, patients with uncontrolled moderate or severe hypertension and/or associated cardiovascular risk factors remain at high risk for cardiovascular events and hypertensive emergency. In recognition of the urgency of treating moderate and severe hypertension, the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) advocates the initial use of 2-drug therapies in patients with systolic BP levels >20 mm Hg above goal or diastolic BP level >10 mm Hg above goal. Regimens should usually include a thiazide diuretic and, for patients with diabetes or kidney disease, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. Recently, clinical trial data have shown that first-step antihypertensive treatment of moderate and severe hypertension with carefully chosen fixed-dose combinations provides a high rate of BP goal achievement, a simplified dosing regimen, and superior tolerability compared with monotherapy. [source]


Relationship of Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Hypertension in Japanese Male Office Workers

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2002
Noriyuki Nakanishi
Background A close relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension has been established, but the effect of light to moderate alcohol consumption on blood pressure (BP) remains unclear. Methods A total of 5275 Japanese male office workers aged 23 to 59 years partook in a survey. Subjects were classified as nondrinkers or current drinkers who averaged less than 12, 12 to 22, 23 to 45, or ,46 g/day of ethanol. BPs were measured at annual health examinations from May 1996 through May 2000. A total of 3784 hypertension-free (systolic BP <140 mm Hg, diastolic BP <90 mm Hg, no medication for hypertension, and no history of hypertension) men were observed for 4 years. Men in whom hypertension (systolic BP ,140 mm Hg, diastolic BP ,90 mm Hg, or both or receipt of antihypertensive medication) was found during repeated surveys were defined as incident cases of hypertension. Results After controlling for potential predictors of hypertension, systolic and diastolic BP levels and the incidence of hypertension were lowest in nondrinkers in all three age ranges (23,35, 36,47, and 45,59 years) and increased in a dose-dependent manner as alcohol consumption increased. For individuals aged 23 to 35 years, systolic and diastolic BP levels and the incidence of hypertension were significantly higher among those who drank an average of ,23 g/day of ethanol than among nondrinkers. For those aged 36 to 59, the diastolic BP level was significantly higher among those who drank any alcohol at all than among nondrinkers, and the systolic BP level and the incidence of hypertension were significantly higher among those who drank an average of ,12 g/day of ethanol than among nondrinkers. Conclusions Light to moderate alcohol consumption seems to have an important influence on BP in both young and middle-aged Japanese men. [source]


The Relationship Between Donor Age and Cadaveric Renal Allograft Survival Is Modified by the Recipient's Blood Pressure

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2003
Fernando G. Cosio
Increasing donor age correlates with reduced renal allograft survival. In this study we analyzed variables that may modify this relationship. The study included 1285 cadaveric kidney allograft recipients followed for 7.2 + 4.5 years. By Cox, increasing donor age beyond 30 years was associated with significant increases in the hazard ratio for graft loss [age 31,46, hazard ratio (HR) =,1.4, p = 0.02; 46,60, HR = 1.55, p = 0.008; > 60, HR = 1.68, p = 0.03]. Increasing donor age was significantly associated with: older and heavier recipients; higher creatinine and blood pressure (BP) 6 months post-transplant; and lower total cyclosporine dose during the first year. Of interest, the 6-month serum creatinine and the BP level modified significantly the relationship between age and survival. Thus, increasing donor age was significantly related to reduced graft survival only in patients with a 6-month creatinine <,2 mg/dL. Furthermore, donor age related significantly to graft survival only among patients with higher BP levels 6 month post transplant. It is concluded that increasing donor age is associated with reduced cadaveric graft survival, but that relationship is significantly modified by graft function and BP. These data suggest that poorly functioning kidneys have reduced survival irrespective of age. Furthermore, elevated BP levels may have a particularly negative effect on the survival of older grafts. [source]


Ketanserin stabilizes blood pressure in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003
Chao-Yu Miao
Summary 1.,It has been demonstrated that blood pressure variability (BPV) is increased in hypertension and related to organ damage. It will be important to lower BPV in the treatment of hypertension. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of ketanserin, a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist with a weak ,1 -adrenoceptor blocking effect, on BPV in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2.,It was found that ketanserin decreased blood pressure (BP) and BPV in SHR when administered intravenously (3 mg/kg, i.v.). Ketanserin decreased BPV, but not the BP level, when administered intracerebroventricularly (50 µg/rat, i.c.v.). 3.,Prazosin, an ,1 -adrenoceptor antagonist, lowered BP but did not affect BPV when given either i.v. (0.5 mg/kg) or i.c.v. (30 ug/rat). Ritanserin (0.625 mg/kg, i.v.; 40 'ug/rat, i.c.v.), a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, decreased BPV only when administered i.c.v. and did not modify the BP level. 4.,Ketanserin enhanced arterial baroreflex function in SHR when given either i.v. or i.c.v. 5.,The stabilizing effect of ketanserin on BP was persistent when administered intragastrically. This administration route is similar to oral administration clinically. 6.,It is concluded that ketanserin is an antihypertensive agent with an effect of reducing BPV. This effect is mainly mediated by central 5-HT2A receptors and is probably attributable to the restoration of arterial baroreflex function. [source]


Interdialytic blood pressure obtained by ambulatory blood pressure measurement and left ventricular structure in hypertensive hemodialysis patients

HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2008
Siddig MOMINADAM
Abstract Unlike in subjects with normal renal function, the relationship between hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients is still being debated. In order to clarify this issue, we performed 44-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) during the interdialytic period in a group of 164 hypertensive patients, the blood pressure (BP) control based on conventional antihypertensive strategy previously, on chronic hemodialysis treatment in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. These results were then compared with their echocardiographic data. This is a cross-sectional analysis. The mean ABPM during 44 hours was close to the manually measured predialysis value, but there was a gradual increase in the ABPM values in the interdialytic period. When divided into a group with mild or no left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (45 patients) and severe LVH (119 patients), the latter had significantly higher BP levels in all separate periods, while the difference in predialysis BP was not significant. Patients with severe LVH had larger left atrium and left ventricular diameters, and consumed more antihypertensive drugs. Systolic BP during the night before dialysis showed the strongest relation to LVH, but interdialytic weight gain was also independently related to LVH. Yet, 56% of the patients with systolic BP <135 had severe LVH. There is not only an association between BP and presence of LVH, but it is shown that volume expansion is also an important independent determinant of LVH. This may explain the difficulty in identifying hypertension as a cardiac risk factor in these patients. [source]


Assessment and management of hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes

INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
M. C. Thomas
Abstract Background:, Hypertension is a major risk factor for adverse outcomes in type 2 diabetes and an important target for intervention. Despite this, the management of blood pressure (BP) remains suboptimal, particularly in patients at increased risk for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of hypertension and its management in consecutive clinic-based samples of patients with type 2 diabetes in Australian primary care. Methods:, BP levels and antihypertensive management strategies were compared in patients with type 2 diabetes recruited as part of the Developing Education on Microalbuminuria for Awareness of reNal and cardiovascular risk in Diabetes (DEMAND) study in 2003 (n = 1831) and the National Evaluation of the Frequency of Renal impairment cO-existing with Non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NEFRON) study in 2005 (n = 3893). Systolic BP levels and the use of antihypertensive therapies were examined in patients with and without chronic kidney disease. Results:, The patient characteristics in both studies were similar in that more than 80% of patients in both studies were hypertensive. Systolic BP targets of ,130 mmHg were achieved in approximately half of all treated patients in both studies. However, the use of antihypertensive therapy either alone or in combination increased from 70.4% in DEMAND to 79.5% in NEFRON 2 years later (P < 0.001). Despite this, antihypertensive therapy continued to be underutilized in high-risk groups, including in those with established chronic kidney disease. Conclusion:, The DEMAND and NEFRON studies both show that BP control is achievable in Australian general practice, with more than half of all patients seeing their general practitioners achieving a target systolic BP ,130 mmHg. However, more needs to be done to further reduce BP levels, particularly in patients at high risk of adverse outcomes. [source]


Maximising antihypertensive effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers with thiazide diuretic combination therapy: focus on irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 12 2007
J. M. Flack
Summary Background:, Evidence-based guidelines for the management of hypertension are now well established. Studies have shown that more than 60% of patients with hypertension will require two or more drugs to achieve current treatment targets. Discussion:, Combination therapy is recommended as first-line treatment by the JNC-7 guidelines for patients with a blood pressure > 20 mmHg above the systolic goal or 10 mmHg above the diastolic goal, while the International Society of Hypertension in Blacks recommends combination therapy when BP exceeds targets by > 15/10 mmHg. Current European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology guidelines also recommend the use of low-dose combination therapy in the first-line setting. Furthermore, JNC-7 recommends that a thiazide-type diuretic should be part of initial first-line combination therapy. Thiazide/diuretic combinations are available for a variety of classes of antihypertensive, including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta blockers and centrally acting agents. This article focuses on clinical data investigating the combination of an ARB, irbesartan, with the diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide. Conclusions:, These data indicate that the ARB/HCTZ combination has greater potency and a similar side effect profile to ARB monotherapy and represents a highly effective approach for attaining goal BP levels using a therapeutic strategy that very effectively lowers BP, is well tolerated and minimises diuretic-induced metabolic effects. [source]


Blood Pressure Level and Outcomes in Adults Aged 65 and Older with Prior Ischemic Stroke

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 9 2006
Robert C. Kaplan PhD
OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between blood pressure (BP) levels and long-term stroke outcomes in elderly stroke survivors. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) of 5,888 community-dwelling adults. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-four adults aged 65 and older (mean age 78.6) who sustained a nonfatal first ischemic stroke. MEASUREMENTS: BP levels assessed at prestroke and poststroke CHS visits were examined as predictors of stroke recurrence, coronary heart disease (CHD), combined vascular events (CVEs), and mortality. RESULTS: Higher poststroke BP level, assessed 261.6 days (mean) after stroke, was associated with higher risk of stroke recurrence over 5.4 years (mean) of follow-up. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio for stroke recurrence was 1.42 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03,1.99) per standard deviation (SD) of systolic BP (P=.04) and 1.39 (95% CI=1.01,1.91) per SD of diastolic BP (P=.04). Mortality was significantly greater in patients with low or high poststroke BP than in those with intermediate BP. Poststroke BP was not associated with risk of CHD or CVE, although further analyses suggested that high systolic BP predicted CHD and CVE in younger but not older subjects. Prestroke BP did not predict poststroke outcomes. CONCLUSION: In this observational study of adults aged 65 and older assessed approximately 8 months after stroke, low BP was associated with favorable risk of recurrent stroke, although high and low poststroke BP levels were associated with greater mortality. Long-term antihypertensive trials in older stroke survivors would increase knowledge about the benefits of lowering BP in this population. [source]


Barriers to Optimal Hypertension Control

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 8 2008
Gbenga Ogedegbe MD
There is an obvious gap in the translation of clinical trial evidence into practice with regards to optimal hypertension control. The three major categories of barriers to BP control are patient-related, physician-related, and medical environment/health care system factors. Patient-related barriers include poor medication adherence, beliefs about hypertension and its treatment, depression, health literacy, comorbidity, and patient motivation. The most pertinent is medication adherence, given its centrality to the other factors. The most salient physician-related barrier is clinical inertia,defined, as the failure of health care providers to initiate or intensify drug therapy in a patient with uncontrolled BP. The major reasons for clinical inertia are: 1) overestimation of the amount of care that physicians provide; 2) lack of training on how to attain target BP levels; and 3) clinicians' use of soft reasons to avoid treatment intensification by adopting a "wait until next visit" approach in response to patients' excuses. [source]


Emerging Insights in the First-Step Use of Antihypertensive Combination Therapy

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 2007
Keith Norris MD
The blood pressure (BP) goals set by hypertension management guidelines (<140/90 mm Hg in uncomplicated hypertension; <130/80 mm Hg in type 2 diabetes or kidney disease) are not being achieved in a high proportion of patients, partly because monotherapy is insufficient in many patients. In particular, patients with uncontrolled moderate or severe hypertension and/or associated cardiovascular risk factors remain at high risk for cardiovascular events and hypertensive emergency. In recognition of the urgency of treating moderate and severe hypertension, the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) advocates the initial use of 2-drug therapies in patients with systolic BP levels >20 mm Hg above goal or diastolic BP level >10 mm Hg above goal. Regimens should usually include a thiazide diuretic and, for patients with diabetes or kidney disease, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. Recently, clinical trial data have shown that first-step antihypertensive treatment of moderate and severe hypertension with carefully chosen fixed-dose combinations provides a high rate of BP goal achievement, a simplified dosing regimen, and superior tolerability compared with monotherapy. [source]


Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism frequency in normotensive children with a positive family history of essential hypertension

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 12 2009
Lale Camci
Aim: To evaluate the possible relationship between blood pressure (BP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in normotensive children with a positive family history of essential hypertension (EHT). Material and Methods: Three hundred seventy-six randomly selected normotensive schoolchildren (147 boys, 229 girls) between the ages of seven and 17 years were enrolled. Children were subdivided into a ,first-degree relative group' and a ,second-degree relative group' according to the presence of EHT in parents or grandparents, respectively. BP was measured twice from the right arm and the systolic BP, diastolic BP and mean BP were recorded. ACE gene I/D polymorphism was performed from all studied children and frequency od DD, ID and ID allele were analysed in each study group. Results: Allelic frequencies of the DD genotype of the ACE gene were higher in children with a positive history in the first- (36.2%) and second-degree (38.3%) relatives for EHT than the controls (30.7%) (P < 0.05 for both). Children with a positive family history of EHT and a DD genotype, had significantly higher SBP, DBP and MBP levels (P < 0.05) than the children with ID or II genotypes. Conclusion: We found that the ACE gene DD genotype was common and that BP levels were higher in Turkish children with a positive family history of EHT and DD genotype. Because the presence of DD allele might be the one of the potential contributor of EHT pathogenesis, further studies needed in large cohort for long term follow-up for EHT in children with DD allele. [source]


Relationship of Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Hypertension in Japanese Male Office Workers

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2002
Noriyuki Nakanishi
Background A close relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension has been established, but the effect of light to moderate alcohol consumption on blood pressure (BP) remains unclear. Methods A total of 5275 Japanese male office workers aged 23 to 59 years partook in a survey. Subjects were classified as nondrinkers or current drinkers who averaged less than 12, 12 to 22, 23 to 45, or ,46 g/day of ethanol. BPs were measured at annual health examinations from May 1996 through May 2000. A total of 3784 hypertension-free (systolic BP <140 mm Hg, diastolic BP <90 mm Hg, no medication for hypertension, and no history of hypertension) men were observed for 4 years. Men in whom hypertension (systolic BP ,140 mm Hg, diastolic BP ,90 mm Hg, or both or receipt of antihypertensive medication) was found during repeated surveys were defined as incident cases of hypertension. Results After controlling for potential predictors of hypertension, systolic and diastolic BP levels and the incidence of hypertension were lowest in nondrinkers in all three age ranges (23,35, 36,47, and 45,59 years) and increased in a dose-dependent manner as alcohol consumption increased. For individuals aged 23 to 35 years, systolic and diastolic BP levels and the incidence of hypertension were significantly higher among those who drank an average of ,23 g/day of ethanol than among nondrinkers. For those aged 36 to 59, the diastolic BP level was significantly higher among those who drank any alcohol at all than among nondrinkers, and the systolic BP level and the incidence of hypertension were significantly higher among those who drank an average of ,12 g/day of ethanol than among nondrinkers. Conclusions Light to moderate alcohol consumption seems to have an important influence on BP in both young and middle-aged Japanese men. [source]


The Relationship Between Donor Age and Cadaveric Renal Allograft Survival Is Modified by the Recipient's Blood Pressure

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2003
Fernando G. Cosio
Increasing donor age correlates with reduced renal allograft survival. In this study we analyzed variables that may modify this relationship. The study included 1285 cadaveric kidney allograft recipients followed for 7.2 + 4.5 years. By Cox, increasing donor age beyond 30 years was associated with significant increases in the hazard ratio for graft loss [age 31,46, hazard ratio (HR) =,1.4, p = 0.02; 46,60, HR = 1.55, p = 0.008; > 60, HR = 1.68, p = 0.03]. Increasing donor age was significantly associated with: older and heavier recipients; higher creatinine and blood pressure (BP) 6 months post-transplant; and lower total cyclosporine dose during the first year. Of interest, the 6-month serum creatinine and the BP level modified significantly the relationship between age and survival. Thus, increasing donor age was significantly related to reduced graft survival only in patients with a 6-month creatinine <,2 mg/dL. Furthermore, donor age related significantly to graft survival only among patients with higher BP levels 6 month post transplant. It is concluded that increasing donor age is associated with reduced cadaveric graft survival, but that relationship is significantly modified by graft function and BP. These data suggest that poorly functioning kidneys have reduced survival irrespective of age. Furthermore, elevated BP levels may have a particularly negative effect on the survival of older grafts. [source]


Relationship between ocular pulse amplitude and systemic blood pressure measurements

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 3 2009
Matthias C. Grieshaber
Abstract. Purpose:, This study aimed to determine whether ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) measured with dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) is related to systemic blood pressure (BP) parameters. Methods:, Blood pressure was measured continuously and simultaneously with OPA in one randomly selected eye in 29 healthy subjects. Systemic parameters of interest were: systolic and diastolic BPs and their difference (BP amplitude), and left ventricle ejection time (LVET; defined as the time between the diastolic trough and the incisural notch in the BP curve). In addition, the axial length (AL) of the eye was measured. Associations between OPA, AL and systemic cardiovascular parameters were analysed in a multivariate regression model. Results:, Measurements of OPA ranged from 1.0 mmHg to 4.9 mmHg (mean 2.3 ± 0.9 mmHg, median 1.9 mmHg). In a univariate analysis with one predictor at a time, means of intraocular pressure (IOP) (p = 0.008), AL (p = 0.046) and LVET (p = 0.037) were significantly correlated with OPA, whereas systolic and diastolic BPs and their amplitude were not. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that mean IOP (p < 0.005), AL (p = 0.01) and LVET (p = 0.002) all independently contributed to OPA. Conclusions:, The OPA readings measured with DCT in healthy subjects were not related to BP levels and amplitude. It seems that the OPA strongly depends on the time,course of the cardiac contraction. Regulating mechanisms in the carotid system as well as scleral rigidity may be responsible for dampening the direct effect of BP variations. [source]


International comparison of blood pressure and BMI values in schoolchildren aged 11,16 years

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2010
Á Baráth
Abstract Aims:, This study comprised part of a larger cross-sectional survey performed in Hungary in the period 2005,2006, which was designed first to reveal the representative age-, gender- and height-specific percentile values for the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in Hungarian children aged 11,16 years. The second aim was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Methods:, Analyses were performed on 14 290 Hungarian children aged 11,16 years. All blood pressure (BP) measurements were made with a validated, automated, digital device. The criteria recommended by international guidelines were used. Results:, The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Hungarian children was found to be 23.4% (3347 adolescents; International Obesity Task Force criteria). Previous studies have reported that the strongest correlation is observed between the BP values and weight, and our results are in accordance with this. Conclusions:, Regional differences in morphometry (different prevalences of overweight and obesity) and the genetic background, disparate eating habits and other cultural factors may account for the differences in BP levels during childhood. As the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide, it is important that countries carefully monitor the weight and BP status of their children and adolescents. [source]