BACKGROUND

Medication compliance contributes to preventing significant morbidities, such as stroke, among hypertensive patients.

This study aimed to examine the factors affecting hypertensive patients' medication compliance in Sambag II, Cebu City.

This study is an observational cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in Barangay Sambag II of Cebu City and involved 170 random, voluntary, self-reporting hypertensive patients. The Tao Yamane formula was used to determine the sample size. An interviewer-guided survey questionnaire was utilized to collect the data for the pilot study. The data were analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha Test for internal consistency and reliability.

Three factors were shown to influence compliance with antihypertensive medications. These are the source of medication, access to medication, and symptoms experienced before intake of anti-hypertensive medications. A factor that significantly affects compliance is the source of medication, wherein hypertensive patients prefer medications from retail pharmacies compared to the free medications supplied by the local health center.

Residents of Sambag II, Cebu City preferred medications from retail pharmacies over the free medications provided by the local health center. Local health units may use this information to implement information drugs regarding the efficacy of medications provided by government agencies. Further studies are recommended to use subgroup analysis on factors influencing compliance and non-compliance to anti-hypertensive medicines.

BACKGROUND

Medication compliance contributes to preventing significant morbidities, such as stroke, among hypertensive patients.

This study aimed to examine the factors affecting hypertensive patients' medication compliance in Sambag II, Cebu City.

This study is an observational cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in Barangay Sambag II of Cebu City and involved 170 random, voluntary, self-reporting hypertensive patients. The Tao Yamane formula was used to determine the sample size. An interviewer-guided survey questionnaire was utilized to collect the data for the pilot study. The data were analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha Test for internal consistency and reliability.

Three factors were shown to influence compliance with antihypertensive medications. These are the source of medication, access to medication, and symptoms experienced before intake of anti-hypertensive medications. A factor that significantly affects compliance is the source of medication, wherein hypertensive patients prefer medications from retail pharmacies compared to the free medications supplied by the local health center.

Residents of Sambag II, Cebu City preferred medications from retail pharmacies over the free medications provided by the local health center. Local health units may use this information to implement information drugs regarding the efficacy of medications provided by government agencies. Further studies are recommended to use subgroup analysis on factors influencing compliance and non-compliance to anti-hypertensive medicines.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) level and the risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) recurrence in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study was conducted among 211 hypertensive patients with AIS treated in Foshan First People's Hospital, including 35 patients with recurrence of AIS during the 1-year follow-up as confirmed by head CT/MR. In the overall patients, 60 had grade 1 hypertension (including 5 recurrent cases), 76 had grade 2 hypertension (with 11 recurrent cases), and 75 had grade 3 hypertension (with 19 recurrent cases). Univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, trend analysis, and smooth curve fitting analysis were performed to explore the correlation between serum Lp-PLA2 level within 24 h after admission and the risk of AIS recurrence. The predictive efficacy of serum Lp-PLA2 level for AIS recurrence in different hypertension grades was evaluated using ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Serum Lp-PLA2 level, age, NIHSS score at admission, mRS scores at 7 days, homocysteine level and smoking status differed significantly between patients with and without AIS recurrence (P < 0.05). After adjustment for confounding factors, multivariate regression analysis showed that the highest tertile of Lp-PLA2 level was associated with a 4.13-fold increase of AIS recurrence risk compared with the lowest tertile (OR=5.13, 95% CI: 1.35-19.40), and each 1 ng/mL increase of Lp-PLA2 level was associated with a 1% increase of AIS recurrence risk (OR= 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01-1.02). Serum Lp-PLA2 level was shown to positively correlate with AIS recurrence risk, and in patients with grade 3 hypertension, its areas under the ROC curve for predicting AIS recurrence was 0.869 with a specificity of 0.893 and a sensitivity of 0.737. CONCLUSION Serum Lp-PLA2 concentration is an independent risk factor and potentially an effective predictor for AIS recurrence in patients with grade 3 hypertension.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase ; Acute Disease ; Biomarkers ; Brain Ischemia/etiology* ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; Hypertension/complications* ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

Objective: To explore the predictive value of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/residual cholesterol (LDL-C/RC) coordination on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in elderly hypertensive patients. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Elderly hypertensive patients hospitalized in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 2018 to June 2020 were prospectively enrolled. According to the coordination of baseline LDL-C/RC, patients were divided into four groups: low LDL-C and low RC (LDL-C<2.6 mmol/L, and RC<0.62 mmol/L), low LDL-C and high RC (LDL-C<2.6 mmol/L, and RC≥0.62 mmol/L), high LDL-C and low RC (LDL-C≥2.6 mmol/L, and RC<0.62 mmol/L), and high LDL-C and high RC (LDL-C≥2.6 mmol/L, and RC≥0.62 mmol/L). Patients were followed up until June 2022. The primary outcome was MACE, including non-fatal acute coronary syndrome, non-fatal acute heart failure, non-fatal stroke and death. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate MACE among the four groups, and Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the related factors of MACE. Results: A total of 847 hypertensive patients were enrolled. There were 453 males (53.5%), mean age was (72.4±8.8) years. There were 207, 162, 263, 215 patients in the low LDL-C and low RC, low LDL-C and high RC, high LDL-C and low RC and high LDL-C and high RC group, respectively. During a median follow-up of 37 months, 196 patients (23.1%) had MACE, including 77 cases (9.1%) of ACS, 56 cases (6.6%) of acute heart failure, 34 cases (4.0%)of non-fatal stroke, 29 cases(3.4%) of all-cause mortality, and 16 cases (1.9%) of cardiovascular death. Risk of MACE of the four groups was significantly different (log-rank P<0.001). Compared with low LDL-C and low RC groups, high LDL-C and high RC groups had the highest incidence of MACE (HR=2.237, 95%CI 1.328-3.783, P=0.004), followed by low LDL-C and high RC groups (HR=1.745, 95%CI 1.220-2.527, P=0.003) and high LDL-C and low RC groups (HR=1.393, 95%CI1.048-1.774, P=0.022). In addition, the risk of nonfatal ACS among the four groups was also statistically significant (P=0.037), while the risk of nonfatal acute heart failure, nonfatal stroke, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death were similar (all P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR=1.271), duration of hypertension (HR=1.339), diabetes (HR=1.415), hyperlipidemia (HR=1.348), serum creatinine (HR=1.263), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (HR=1.316), LDL-C (HR=1.205), RC (HR=1.302), low LDL-C and high RC (HR=1.745), high LDL-C and low RC (HR=1.393), high LDL-C and high RC (HR=2.237) were independently associated with the occurrence of MACE. Conclusion: The coordination of LDL-C/RC affects the risk of MACE in elderly hypertensive patients, and the risk of MACE is the highest in patients with high LDL-C and high RC.
Male ; Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Prospective Studies ; Cholesterol ; Heart Failure ; Risk Factors ; Hypertension ; Stroke

Being the leading cause of death among both urban and rural residents in Hunan Province, China, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases hold a significant position in the region's public health landscape. Their prevalence and impact not only underscore the urgency of effective disease prevention and control but also provide crucial guidance for future initiatives. Consequently, the Hunan Province Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health and Disease Report Summary (2020) hereinafter referred to as the "Annual Report", serves as an extensive and informative document. It meticulously examines the current status of these diseases, highlighting both the existing challenges and opportunities for prevention and control efforts in Hunan Province. The primary objective of this report is to furnish valuable insights and evidence that will empower and enrich future endeavors aimed at combatting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases within the region. In 2017, the year of life expectancy lost due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Hunan Province remained higher than the national average. Additionally, the per capita life expectancy in 2019 (77.1 years) was slightly lower by 0.2 years compared with the national average (77.3 years). Alarmingly, the mortality rates associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were consistently ranking highest, indicating an upward trajectory. Moreover, the prevalence and mortality rates of conditions such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke, all encompassed within the domain of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, surpassed the national averages. Consequently, the economic burden attributable to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is on the rise. And under vertical comparison, in 2019, the life expectancy per capita in Hunan Province increased by 1.26 years compared with 2015. The incidence rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events decreased by 8.34% compared with 2017. A new model of hypertension medical and preventive integration has been established with the efforts of many experts in Hunan Province, and full coverage of standardised outpatient clinics for hypertension at the grassroots level has been realised. The rate of standardised management of patients with hypertension under management in Changsha County, a demonstration area, rose to 65.27%, and the incidence rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, the incidence rate of stroke, and the mortality rate due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were reduced by 28.08%, 28.62%, and 25.00%, respectively. Hunan Province has made significant strides in the prevention and control of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in recent years.
Humans ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; Life Expectancy ; Incidence ; Stroke/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To study effects of Shenmai Injection on hypertensive heart failure and its mechanism for inhibiting myocardial fibrosis. METHODS: Salt-sensitive (Dahl/SS) rats were fed with normal diet (0.3% NaCl) and the high-salt diet (8% NaCl) to observe the changes in blood pressure and heart function, as the control group and the model group. Salt-insensitive rats (SS-13BN) were fed with the high-salt diet (8% NaCl) as the negative control group. After modeling, the model rats were randomly divided into heart failure (HF) group, Shenmai Injection (SMI) group and pirfenidone (PFD) group by a random number table, with 6 rats in each group. They were given sterilized water, SMI and pirfenidone, respectively. Blood pressure, cardiac function, fibrosis and related molecular expression were detected by sphygmomanometer, echocardiogram, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, immunofluorescence and qPCR analysis. RESULTS: After high-salt feeding, compared with the control and negative control group, in the model group the blood pressure increased significantly, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were significantly reduced, and the serum NT-proBNP concentration increased significantly (all P<0.05); furthermore, the arrangement of myocardial cells was disordered, the edema was severe, and the degree of myocardial fibrosis was also significantly increased (P<0.05); the protein and mRNA expressions of collagen type I (Col I) were up-regulated (P<0.05), and the mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF- β 1), Smad2 and Smad3 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with HF group, after intervention of Shenmai Injection, LVEF and LVFS increased, myocardial morphology was improved, collagen volume fraction decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the mRNA expressions of Col I, TGF- β 1, Smad2 and Smad3, as well as Col I protein expression, were all significantly down-regulated (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION Myocardial fibrosis is the main pathological manifestation of hypertensive heart failure, and Shenmai Injection could inhibit myocardial fibrosis and effectively improve heart failure by regulating TGF-β 1/Smad signaling pathway.
Rats ; Animals ; Stroke Volume ; Sodium Chloride ; Rats, Inbred Dahl ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Heart Failure ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Hypertension ; Fibrosis ; RNA, Messenger

Objective: To explore the predictive value of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/residual cholesterol (LDL-C/RC) coordination on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in elderly hypertensive patients. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Elderly hypertensive patients hospitalized in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 2018 to June 2020 were prospectively enrolled. According to the coordination of baseline LDL-C/RC, patients were divided into four groups: low LDL-C and low RC (LDL-C<2.6 mmol/L, and RC<0.62 mmol/L), low LDL-C and high RC (LDL-C<2.6 mmol/L, and RC≥0.62 mmol/L), high LDL-C and low RC (LDL-C≥2.6 mmol/L, and RC<0.62 mmol/L), and high LDL-C and high RC (LDL-C≥2.6 mmol/L, and RC≥0.62 mmol/L). Patients were followed up until June 2022. The primary outcome was MACE, including non-fatal acute coronary syndrome, non-fatal acute heart failure, non-fatal stroke and death. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate MACE among the four groups, and Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the related factors of MACE. Results: A total of 847 hypertensive patients were enrolled. There were 453 males (53.5%), mean age was (72.4±8.8) years. There were 207, 162, 263, 215 patients in the low LDL-C and low RC, low LDL-C and high RC, high LDL-C and low RC and high LDL-C and high RC group, respectively. During a median follow-up of 37 months, 196 patients (23.1%) had MACE, including 77 cases (9.1%) of ACS, 56 cases (6.6%) of acute heart failure, 34 cases (4.0%)of non-fatal stroke, 29 cases(3.4%) of all-cause mortality, and 16 cases (1.9%) of cardiovascular death. Risk of MACE of the four groups was significantly different (log-rank P<0.001). Compared with low LDL-C and low RC groups, high LDL-C and high RC groups had the highest incidence of MACE (HR=2.237, 95%CI 1.328-3.783, P=0.004), followed by low LDL-C and high RC groups (HR=1.745, 95%CI 1.220-2.527, P=0.003) and high LDL-C and low RC groups (HR=1.393, 95%CI1.048-1.774, P=0.022). In addition, the risk of nonfatal ACS among the four groups was also statistically significant (P=0.037), while the risk of nonfatal acute heart failure, nonfatal stroke, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death were similar (all P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR=1.271), duration of hypertension (HR=1.339), diabetes (HR=1.415), hyperlipidemia (HR=1.348), serum creatinine (HR=1.263), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (HR=1.316), LDL-C (HR=1.205), RC (HR=1.302), low LDL-C and high RC (HR=1.745), high LDL-C and low RC (HR=1.393), high LDL-C and high RC (HR=2.237) were independently associated with the occurrence of MACE. Conclusion: The coordination of LDL-C/RC affects the risk of MACE in elderly hypertensive patients, and the risk of MACE is the highest in patients with high LDL-C and high RC.
Male ; Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Prospective Studies ; Cholesterol ; Heart Failure ; Risk Factors ; Hypertension ; Stroke

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a type of heart failure characterized by left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with preserved ejection fraction. With the aging of the population and the increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes, the prevalence of HFpEF is increasing. Compared with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), conventional anti-heart failure drugs failed to reduce the mortality in HFpEF due to the complex pathophysiological mechanism and multiple comorbidities of HFpEF. It is known that the main changes of cardiac structure of in HFpEF are cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy, and HFpEF is commonly associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, renal dysfunction and other diseases, but how these comorbidities cause structural and functional damage to the heart is not completely clear. Recent studies have shown that immune inflammatory response plays a vital role in the progression of HFpEF. This review focuses on the latest research progress in the role of inflammation in the process of HFpEF and the potential application of anti-inflammatory therapy in HFpEF, hoping to provide new research ideas and theoretical basis for the clinical prevention and treatment in HFpEF.
Humans ; Heart Failure ; Stroke Volume/physiology* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/metabolism* ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/metabolism* ; Inflammation/complications* ; Obesity ; Hypertension

Objective To investigate the cardiac structural and functional characteristics in the patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),and predict the factors influencing the characteristics. Methods A total of 783 HFpEF patients diagnosed in the Department of Geriatric Cardiology,the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from April 2009 to December 2020 were enrolled in this study.Echocardiography and tissue Doppler technique were employed to evaluate cardiac structure and function.According to the occurrence of T2DM,the patients were assigned into a HFpEF+T2DM group (n=332) and a HFpEF group (n=451).Propensity score matching (PSM)(in a 1∶1 ratio) was adopted to minimize confounding effect.According to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER),the HFpEF+T2DM group was further divided into three subgroups with UAER<20 μg/min,of 20-200 μg/min,and>200 μg/min,respectively.The comorbidities,symptoms and signs,and cardiac structure and function were compared among the groups to clarify the features of diabetes related HFpEF.Multivariate linear regression was conducted to probe the relationship of systolic blood pressure,blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin,and UARE with cardiac structural and functional impairment. Results The HFpEF+T2DM group had higher prevalence of hypertension (P=0.001) and coronary heart disease (P=0.036),younger age (P=0.020),and larger body mass index (P=0.005) than the HFpEF group,with the median diabetic course of 10 (3,17) years.After PSM,the prevalence of hypertension and coronary heart disease,body mass index,and age had no significant differences between the two groups(all P>0.05).In addition,the HFpEF+T2DM group had higher interventricular septal thickness (P=0.015),left ventricular posterior wall thickness (P=0.040),and left ventricular mass (P=0.012) and lower early diastole velocity of mitral annular septum (P=0.030) and lateral wall (P=0.011) than the HFpEF group.Compared with the HFpEF group,the HFpEF+T2DM group showed increased ratio of early diastolic mitral filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e') (P=0.036).Glycosylated hemoglobin was correlated with left ventricular mass (P=0.011),and the natural logarithm of UAER with interventricular septal thickness (P=0.004),left ventricular posterior wall thickness (P=0.006),left ventricular mass (P<0.001),and E/e' ratio (P=0.049). Conclusion The patients with both T2DM and HFpEF have thicker left ventricular wall,larger left ventricular mass,more advanced left ventricular remodeling,severer impaired left ventricular diastolic function,and higher left ventricular filling pressure than the HFpEF patients without T2DM.Elevated blood glucose and diabetic microvascular diseases might play a role in the development of the detrimental structural and functional changes of the heart.
Humans ; Aged ; Heart Failure/diagnosis* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Stroke Volume ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Blood Glucose ; Propensity Score ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Hypertension

Humans ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Patient Discharge ; Ischemic Stroke ; Stroke ; Brain Ischemia ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hypertension