2024年 · 第04卷第01期

Hypertension has become a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature mortality worldwide, with high prevalence and relatively poor control rate, especially in rural areas.^[1]Blood pressure (BP) control in rural areas is the most vulnerable spot in hypertension control and is a key target to reduce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and total mortality. Medical workers globally have devoted considerable efforts to solving this problem and some progress has been made [Table 1].^[2,3,4,5,6]Our recent study proved that a novel, village doctor-led, multifaceted intervention strategy for BP control was an effective, feasible, and safe method for controlling hypertension in rural China.^[6]

Microcirculatory dysfunction (CMD) typically occurs in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction during percutaneous coronary intervention, which is associated with more severe myocardial injury and a worse prognosis. With the advancement of intracoronary physiology and imaging technology, the prevention and therapeutic interventions of CMD have attracted more attention. However, relevant guidelines or consensus on CMD are lacking in China. The current consensus summarizes the prevention and diagnostic strategies of emergency percutaneous coronary intervention-related CMD and gives suggestions to improve the prognosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients based on evidence from recent clinical studies, guidelines, and consensus from international sources.

Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is viewed as a facilitating factor in the initial diagnosis and long-term management of treated hypertension. However, evidence remains scarce about the effectiveness of HBPM use in the real world. This study aimed to examine the associations of HBPM use with blood pressure (BP) control and medication adherence.

This prospective cohort study included hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk who were aged ≥50 years. At baseline, information about types of BP monitor, frequency of HBPM, perception of anti-hypertensive treatment, and measured office BP were collected. During the 1-year follow-up (visits at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months), information on medication adherence was collected at each visit. The 2 major outcomes were BP control at baseline and medication adherence during the 1-year follow-up. A log-binomial regression model was used to examine the association between frequency of HBPM and outcomes, stratified by the perceptions of anti-hypertensive treatment.

A total of 5,363 hypertensive patients were included in the analysis. The age was (64.6 ± 7.2) years, and 41.2% (2,208) were female. Of the total patients, 85.9% (4,606) had a home BP monitor and 47.8% (2,564) had an incorrect perception of antihypertensive treatment. Overall, 24.2% (1,299) of patients monitored their BP daily, 37.6% (2,015) weekly, 17.3% (926) monthly, and 20.9% (1,123) less than monthly. At baseline, the systolic BP and diastolic BP were (146.6 ± 10.8) mmHg and (81.9 ± 10.6) mmHg, respectively, and 28.5% (1,527) of patients had their BP controlled. Regardless of whether the patients had correct or incorrect perceptions of anti-hypertensive treatment, there is no significant association between HBPM frequency and BP control at baseline. During the 1-year follow-up, 23.9% (1,280) of patients had non-adherence to medications at least once. In patients with an incorrect perception of anti-hypertensive treatment, those monitoring BP most frequently (daily) had the highest non-adherence rate (29.9%, 175/585). Compared with those monitoring their BP less than monthly, patients who monitored their BP daily were more likely not to adhere to anti-hypertensive medications (adjusted relative risk = 1.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.11-1.72, P = 0.004).

HBPM performance among hypertensive patients in China is, in general, sub-optimal. No association was observed between using HBPM alone and hypertension control, indicating that the effects of HBPM could be conditional. Patients' misconceptions about anti-hypertensive treatment may impair the role of BP monitoring in achieving medication adherence. Fully incorporating the correct perception of hypertension into the management of hypertensive patients is needed.

The risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) is high in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The aim of this study is to analyze the role of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) in diagnosing AKI in patients with ADHF and evaluate the therapeutic effect of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) on AKI.

Sixty patients with ADHF were enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to June 2021, and randomized into 2 groups (ARNI group: 30 patients treated with tablets of sacubitril valsartan sodium; and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) group: 30 patients treated with benazepril). The uNGAL level was measured immediately after as well as 1, 2, 3, and 7 d after hospital admission. The serum creatinine (sCr) level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured immediately as well as 2 and 7 d after hospital admission. The urine volume, dose of loop diuretics, and duration of hospital stay (DoHS) were recorded.

The most valuable diagnostic metric for AKI in patients with ADHF was the uNGAL level 1 d after hospital admission, which had a sensitivity of 0.94, specificity of 0.84, and optimal cutoff of 125.62 μg/L. In the presence of AKI, during the first 2 d, patients in the ARNI-AKI and ACEI-AKI groups showed an increase in the sCr level and a reduction in the eGFR level, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). After 7 d of treatment, the sCr level decreased and the eGFR level increased in both groups, with a significantly greater changes being observed in the ARNI-AKI group than in the ACEI-AKI group (P < 0.05, respectively). In the absence of AKI, the difference in the sCr level and eGFR between the 2 groups was not significant. The DoHS ((11.25 ± 2.38) d vs. (14.11 ± 2.89) d), urinary microalbumin level ((22.95 ± 6.04) mg/L vs. (31.91 ± 2.18) mg/L), and daily dose of loop diuretics ((19.03 ± 3.04) mg/d vs. (23.62 ± 4.46) mg/d) were significantly lower in patients with AKI in the ARNI group than in the ACEI group (P < 0.05, respectively).

In patients with ADHF, uNGAL measurement enables the diagnosis of AKI earlier than that using the sCr level by 1 to 2 d. ARNI treatment reduced the sCr level, facilitated eGFR recovery, reduced the daily dose of loop diuretics, and decreased the DoHS compared with that in patients receive ACEI treatment.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, and its prevalence is rising. NAFLD is closely associated with metabolic syndrome, with both conditions sharing common clinical characteristics such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia. Several observational studies have evaluated the relationship between NAFLD and hypertension, with the overall evidence suggesting a bidirectional relationship. It is hypothesized that activation of the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin systems, observed in NAFLD with or without insulin resistance promotes the development of hypertension. In patients with hypertension, activation of these systems can lead to hepatic fibrosis and progressive inflammation through increased oxidative stress and activation of hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells. The present review examines the pathophysiologic and clinical evidence supporting the bidirectional association between NAFLD and hypertension.

An increasing body of evidence shows that new antidiabetic drugs - particularly sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists - have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular outcome. The majority of these studies have been performed in patients with heart failure and the results have shown first positive effect on blood pressure (BP) reduction. These effects are more pronounced with SGLT2 inhibitors than with GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, the reasons and mechanisms of action inducing BP reduction are still not sufficiently clear. Proposed mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors involve the natriuretic effect, modification of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and/or the reduction in the sympathetic nervous system. GLP-1 receptor agonists have several mechanisms that are related to glycemic, weight, and BP control. Current data show that SGLT2 inhibitors have a stronger antihypertensive effect than GLP-1 receptor agonists, which is mainly related to their renal effect. Briefly, SGLT2 inhibitors increase the response to diuretics and decrease the meal-related antinatriuretic pressure by lowering post-prandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia and prevent proximal sodium reabsorption. SGLT2 inhibitors can be used as second-line therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus or heart disease and concomitant hypertension. This article aims to summarize current knowledge regarding the antihypertensive effect of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Myocarditis is characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration into the myocardium and a high risk of deteriorating cardiac function with a heterogeneous etiology. Both viral- and myosin-induced myocarditis experimental models are used to mimic myocarditis in humans. Here, coxsackie virus B3-induced and non-virus-induced myocarditis models and data obtained in clinical studies were reviewed. Experimental murine myocarditis following immunization with α-myosin together with complete Freund adjuvant represents the classical immune-mediated model. T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 pathways and important cytokines are involved in the autoimmunity of myocarditis, and the dynamic balance between Th17 and regulatory T cell seems to have an important role in the process of myocarditis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the existing understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying myocarditis and exploring gaps in knowledge in both animal and human studies, since these mechanistic insights are a critical requirement for the development of novel therapeutic and vaccination strategies.

Abdominal complications following cardiac surgery are rare events, but can be fatal if not diagnosed and managed in time. Aggressive treatments offer a better chance for survival in patients with risk factors. This case report describes the clinical presentation and details of 3 recently operated patients who suffered acute abdominal pain after cardiac surgery. The underlying causes were Crohn disease-associated ileal perforation, intestinal necrosis, and diverticulitis-associated colonic perforation. The presentation and management of these severe conditions are discussed.

The Chinese edition of theAnnual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2022 has been published.^[1]We present herein an interpretation of this report.