<i>Background</i>. Hypertension is an important public health concern that is claiming millions of lives worldwide. In sub-Saharan African countries, where some of the highest prevalence rates are being recorded, sufficient attention has not been given to its control. <i>Objective</i>. The aim of this study was to determine the association and predictive potential of different anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measures for hypertension. <i>Methods</i>. A total of 812 individuals (204 men and 608 women) were enrolled, and their blood pressure measurement was determined. Direct anthropometric measures (weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference) and derived anthropometric measures (body mass index, conicity index, abdominal volume index (AVI), and body adiposity index) were determined. BIA indices investigated included visceral fat level (VF), percentage body fat (&#x0025;BF), resting metabolic rate (RMR), and skeletal muscle mass. <i>Results</i>. A prevalence of 31.28&#x0025; was observed for hypertension in the total study population, with males having a slightly higher prevalence than females. Except for the skeletal muscle mass, all the other indices measured showed an increasing trend from normotension to prehypertension and hypertension. Age and visceral fat level showed the highest correlation with systolic blood pressure for both genders. Receiver operator characteristic analysis showed that age was the best predictor of hypertension in both genders, whereas, in predicting prehypertension, RMR was the best predictor in males, and WC was the best predictor in females. VF, WC, and AVI were other good predictors of hypertension in this study population. However, BMI and &#x0025; BF had a low predictive value for hypertension. <i>Conclusion</i>. The result of this study shows that within this study population in addition to age, measures of central obesity rather than general obesity are the likely drivers of the hypertension epidemic; thus, measures aimed at controlling central obesity may offer some therapeutic and preventive advantage.

Adjoa Agyemang Boakye

David Adedia

Gaston Kofi Hunkpe

Rosina Afua Ampomah Carr

Veronica Fafali Ami AdanusahAll

Bless Seyram Agbenyo

Kwabena Obeng Duedu

Comparative Assessment of the Utility of Anthropometric and Bioelectrical Impedance Indices as Potential Predictors of Hypertension within a Ghanaian Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

<i>Background</i>. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. Although the pathogenetic process involved is not yet fully understood, the disease involves endothelial damage and inflammation. Calprotectin is an inflammatory marker that rises in parallel with disease activity in conditions such as systemic inflammatory diseases, infection, and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate inflammation through serum calprotectin levels in newly diagnosed primary hypertension patients. <i>Methods</i>. Forty-nine newly diagnosed hypertensive patients and 38 healthy adults were included in the study. Patients’ office blood pressure values, biochemical findings, and demographic characteristics were recorded. Serum calprotectin levels were measured using ELISA. Parameters affecting serum calprotectin levels and determinants of hypertension were evaluated. <i>Results</i>. Serum calprotectin levels were 242.8 (72.4–524) ng/mL in the control group and 112.6 (67.4–389.8) ng/mL in the hypertensive patient group, the difference being statistically significant (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18.973pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" id="M1" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 18.973 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-113" d="M570 304C570 398 525 448 414 448C385 448 343 445 312 434L329 511L321 518C297 504 262 482 244 460L233 411C195 397 159 381 128 358L135 332C160 347 189 360 224 373L111 -147C97 -210 84 -218 17 -231L13 -257L254 -247L259 -218L233 -216C183 -212 177 -202 189 -142L218 -1C238 -10 266 -12 283 -12C351 3 429 48 483 105C543 168 570 242 570 304ZM482 289C482 161 380 33 304 33C278 33 248 51 233 69L303 396C326 400 352 403 369 403C428 403 482 380 482 289Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.342,0)"><path id="g117-34" d="M535 323V373H52V323H535ZM535 138V188H52V138H535Z"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"/><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="28.184pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.555183800000002 -8.34882 28.184 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.605,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.845,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,31.809,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.049,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,44.289,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g></svg>).</span></span> There was no correlation between serum calprotectin levels and other parameters (blood pressure values, age, gender, serum creatinine, uric acid, and calcium levels) in the hypertensive group. A lower serum calprotectin level was found to be independently related to hypertension (<i>β</i> = −0.009, <span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18.973pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" id="M2" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 18.973 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-113"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.342,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-34"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"/><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="28.184pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.555183800000002 -8.34882 28.184 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.605,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.845,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,31.809,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.049,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,44.289,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g></svg>).</span></span> Serum calprotectin at a cutoff level of 128.6 ng/mL differentiated hypertensives from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 69.4% and specificity of 68.4% (AUC = 0.767). <i>Conclusions</i>. The results of this study were the opposite of our hypothesis that a higher calprotectin level may reflect subclinical endothelial damage in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Further comparative studies involving patients at different stages of hypertension may contribute to clarifying the relationship between calprotectin and hypertension. We conclude that molecular studies seem essential for understanding the place of calprotectin in hypertension-associated inflammation, a complex process.

Nergiz Bayrakci

G&#xfc;ls&#xfc;m Ozkan

Sonat Pinar Kara

Ahsen Yilmaz

Savas Guzel

Serum Calprotectin Level as an Inflammatory Marker in Newly Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies showed that patients with hypertension are at an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, proper blood pressure control in hypertensive patients with COVID-19 is of great importance. In this review, we discussed the effects of different classes of antihypertensive drugs on patients with hypertension and COVID-19.

Farnoosh Nozari

Nasrin Hamidizadeh

The Effects of Different Classes of Antihypertensive Drugs on Patients with COVID-19 and Hypertension: A Mini-Review

Although electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to decrease the blood pressure (BP) clinically, the underlying mechanisms are not clearly clarified. This study aimed to assess the hypothesis that EA treatment exerts a hypotensive action via suppressing sympathetic activities and modulating neuropeptide Y (NPY) function within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypertensive rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected for the experiment, and the hypertensive models were established by the two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) method. Then, the rats were randomly assigned to the sham group, 2K1C group, 2K1C plus EA group, and 2K1C plus sham EA group. EA treatment at the acupoints ST36 and ST40 overlying the peroneal nerves was given once a day for 30 days. The radiotelemetry system was applied to collect the arterial BP recordings. Power spectral analyses of BP variability, BP responses to ganglionic blockade, and plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine were performed to assess the changes in sympathetic nerve activity. Real-time PCR and Western blots were carried out to examine the expression of NPY system in the PVN. The responses of PVN microinjection with NPY Y1R antagonist BIBO3304 were detected to check the endogenous NPY tone. The results showed that the enhanced arterial BP and sympathetic activities were effectively reduced by 30 days of EA treatment, and baroreflex sensitivity was improved in 2K1C hypertensive rats. The level of NPY mRNA and protein expression in the PVN was markedly upregulated by EA treatment in 2K1C rats. In addition, the pressor responses of PVN microinjection with NPY Y1R antagonist BIBO3304 in 2K1C models were remarkably augmented by the EA stimulation. Our results indicate that the increased NPY expression and function in the PVN induced by EA treatment contribute to antihypertensive and sympathetic suppression on hypertensive rats. The findings may elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the acupuncture to be a potential therapeutic strategy against hypertension.

Qi Zhang

Yingying Tan

Xin Wen

Fangfang Li

Involvement of Neuropeptide Y within Paraventricular Nucleus in Electroacupuncture Inhibiting Sympathetic Activities in Hypertensive Rats

This phase 4 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of azilsartan medoxomil (AZL-M) in patients with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand. This was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label study with patients aged 18&#x2013;75 years with T2DM and essential hypertension and on stable treatment for T2DM. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension were treated with AZL-M 40&#x2009;mg daily, with the option to uptitrate to 80&#x2009;mg at 6 weeks. In all, 380 of the 478 patients screened in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand were enrolled. At week 6, 97 patients (25.5&#x0025;) were titrated up to AZL-M 80&#x2009;mg based on BP readings. At 12 weeks, 54.8&#x0025; of patients reached the blood pressure (BP) goal of &#x3c;140/85&#x2009;mm Hg by trough sitting clinic BP (primary endpoint), and 62.8&#x0025; and 27.0&#x0025; achieved a BP of &#x3c;140/90&#x2009;mm Hg and &#x3c;130/80&#x2009;mm Hg, respectively. The efficacy of AZL-M over 12 weeks was also seen in different age and body mass index groups. The incidence of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was 12.9&#x0025; before 6 weeks and 16.1&#x0025; after 6 weeks, and they were mostly mild in severity. The most frequent TEAE was dizziness (4.7&#x0025;). The incidence of TEAEs leading to study drug discontinuation (4.5&#x0025;) and drug-related TEAEs (5.0&#x0025; before 6 weeks; 3.9&#x0025; after 6 weeks) was low. In patients with essential hypertension and T2DM in Asia, treatment with AZL-M indicated a favorable efficacy and safety profile in achieving target BP.

Chaicharn Deerochanawong

Kuan-Cheng Chang

Yu Cho Woo

Wen-Ter Lai

Aurauma Chutinet

A Prospective Study of Azilsartan Medoxomil in the Treatment of Patients with Essential Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes in Asia

About this journal

<p><em>International Journal of Hypertension</em> publishes original research articles, and review articles&nbsp;related to hypertension, with a special focus on vascular biology, epidemiology, pediatric hypertension, and hypertensive nephropathy.</p>


Journal profile

Meet the editorial board

<p>Chief Editor, Professor Franco Veglio, is a Full Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Turin, Italy.</p>


Editor spotlight

Submit to Special Issue

We currently have a number of Special Issues open for submission. Special Issues highlight emerging areas of research within a field, or provide a venue for a deeper investigation into an existing research area.

Special Issues

Author guidelines

Editorial board

Databases and indexing

International Journal of Hypertension - Table of contents 2022

International Journal of Hypertension | Hindawi

title

International Journal of Hypertension publishes original research articles, and review articles related to hypertension, with a special focus on vascular biology, epidemiology, pediatric hypertension, and hypertensive nephropathy.

description

https://images.hindawi.com/journals/ijhy/ijhy.banner.jpg

International Journal of Hypertension