Getting to know a new protocol in hypertension care

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Lundin

This study explores the use of a new protocol in hypertension care, in which continuous patient-generated data reported through digital technology are presented in graphical form and discussed in follow-up consultations with nurses. This protocol is part of an infrastructure design project in which patients and medical professionals are co-designers. The approach used for the study was interaction analysis, which rendered possible detailed in situ examination of local variations in how nurses relate to the protocol. The findings show three distinct engagements: (1) teasing out an average blood pressure, (2) working around the protocol and graph data and (3) delivering an analysis. It was discovered that the graphical representations structured the consultations to a great extent, and that nurses mostly referred to graphs that showed blood pressure values, which is a measurement central to the medical discourse of hypertension. However, it was also found that analysis of the data alone was not sufficient to engage patients: nurses' invisible and inclusion work through eliciting patients' narratives played an important role here. A conclusion of the study is that nurses and patients both need to be more thoroughly introduced to using protocols based on graphs for more productive consultations to be established. 

2019 ◽  
Vol 96 (1139) ◽  
pp. 525-529
Author(s):  
Chao-Lei Chen ◽  
Jia-Yi Huang ◽  
Lin Liu ◽  
Yu-Ling Yu ◽  
Geng Shen ◽  
...  

BackgroundIt is uncertain how diastolic blood pressure (DBP) may associate with ischaemic stroke in elder patients with hypertension. We aimed to explore this relationship in a Chinese community.MethodsA total of 3315 participants aged ≥60 years with essential hypertension were enrolled between January 2010 and December 2011, and being followed up until 31 December 2016. DBP levels were categorised into five groups (<60, 60–70, 70–80, 80–90 and ≥90 mm Hg), using 70–80 mm Hg as referent. We performed Cox regression analysis and subgroup analyses to evaluate the relationship between DBP and the incidence of ischaemic stroke.ResultsAmong the 3315 participants, 44.49% were men and they were 71.4 years old on average. During a median follow-up period of 5.5 years, there were 206 onset cases of ischaemic stroke. The HRs for the first ischaemic stroke in the fully adjusted model were 1.32 (95% CI 0.73 to 2.40) for DBP <70 mm Hg, 1.50 (95% CI 1.13 to 2.73) for DBP between 80 and 89.9 mm Hg and 2.31 (95% CI 1.14 to 4.68) for DBP ≥90 mm Hg compared with DBP between 70 and 79.9 mm Hg (p=0.020 for trend). Subgroup and interaction analysis showed no significant findings.ConclusionsDBP had a non-linear association with the risk of ischaemic stroke among Chinese elderly patients with hypertension. DBP between 70 and 80 mm Hg may be an appropriate indicator for a lower stroke risk.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Etienne Partarrieu Stegmeier ◽  
Daniela Catalina Ahumada Millar ◽  
Soledad Armijo Rivera ◽  
Víctor Hugo Navia González

UNSTRUCTURED A randomized control study was designed with the objective to improve blood pressure control in people with cardiovascular disease. The intervention will be carried out in three modalities: one through self-monitoring of the patient after the delivery of a wrist blood pressure recording machine; another, fully automated modality, in which patients receive educational information and reminders through their smartphone, mediated by the Red Cap / Twilio platform; and finally, an instance of doubts resolution and follow-up to be carried out through telephone calls between nursing staff and patients through the Twilio platform. It is an open study, in which patients with cardiovascular disease who are treated at the El Roble family health center, Santiago de Chile, will be recruited via web-based. Outcomes will be evaluated through the calculation of weekly average blood pressure, in addition to self-assessed surveys that seek to determine an improvement in treatment adherence, knowledge of stroke and cardiovascular disease including recognition of stroke and myocardial infarction alarm symptoms and the level of self-efficacy of the patient. A total of 126 patients were recruited, divided in a 1 to 1 ratio between the control and intervention groups. Our main objective is through this sample size to discriminate a decrease of 3 mmHg in systolic blood pressure between both groups with a confidence interval of 95% (95% CI) between the 2 groups, 80% power and 5% statistical error.


Author(s):  
Isabel J. Sible ◽  
Daniel A. Nation ◽  
Michael Weiner ◽  
Paul Aisen ◽  
Ronald Petersen ◽  
...  

Background: Elevated blood pressure variability (BPV) is predictive of dementia, independent of average blood pressure levels, but neuropathological mechanisms remain unclear. We examined whether BPV in older adults is related to tau accumulation in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer disease and whether relationships are modified by apoϵ4 carrier status. Methods: Two hundred eighty-six Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants without history of dementia underwent 3 to 4 blood pressure measurements over 12 months and ≥1 tau positron emission tomography thereafter. BPV was calculated as variability independent of mean. Each scan determined tau burden (standardized uptake value ratio) for a temporal meta–region of interest, including burden from entorhinal cortex, amygdala, parahippocampus, fusiform, inferior temporal, and middle temporal. Bayesian linear growth modeling examined the role of BPV, apolipoprotein ϵ4 carrier status, and time on regional tau accumulation after controlling for several variables, including baseline hypertension. Results: Elevated BPV was related to tau accumulation at follow-up in a temporal meta-region, independent of average blood pressure levels (ß, 0.89 [95% credible interval, 0.86–0.92]) and especially in entorhinal cortex (ß, 2.57 [95% credible interval, 2.15–2.99]). Apoϵ4 carriers with elevated BPV had the fastest tau accumulation at follow-up (ß, 1.73 [95% credible interval, 0.47–3.03]). Conclusions: BPV is related to tau accumulation in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer disease, independent of average blood pressure. APOEϵ4 modified this relationship. Bidirectionality of findings is possible. BPV may represent a marker of vascular dysfunction related to early-stage tau pathology contributing to Alzheimer disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-64
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman Chowdhury ◽  
Rifat Zaman ◽  
Md Amanur Rasul ◽  
Akm Shahadat Hossain ◽  
Shafiqul Alam Chowdhury ◽  
...  

Introduction and objectives: Congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is the most common cause of hydronephrosis. Management protocols are based on the presence of symptoms and when the patient is asymptomatic the function of the affected kidney determines the line of treatment. Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) became a widely accepted procedure in children in the 1990s. The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of performing percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) in all patients with UPJO and split renal function (SRF) of less than 10% in the affected kidney, because the management of such cases is still under debate. Methods:This prospective clinical trial was carried out at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from January 2014 to December 2016. Eighteen consecutive patients who underwent PCN for the treatment of unilateral UPJO were evaluated prospectively. In these children, ultrasonography was used for puncture and catheter insertion. Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia was used for puncture. Pig tail catheters were employed. The PCN remained in situ for at least 4 weeks, during which patients received low-dose cephalosporin prophylaxis. Repeat renography was done after 4 weeks. When there was no significant improvement in split renal function (10% or greater) and PCN drainage (greater than 200 ml per day) then nephrectomies were performed otherwise pyeloplasties were performed. The patients were followed up after pyeloplasty with renograms at 3 months and 6 months post operatively. Results: All the patients had severe hydronephrosis during diagnosis and 14 patients with unilateral UPJO were improved after PCN drainage and underwent pyeloplasty. The rest four patients that did not show improvement in the SRF and total volume of urine output underwent nephrectomy. In the patients with unilateral UPJO who improved after PCN drainage, the SRF was increased to 26.4% ±8.6% (mean± SD) after four weeks and pyeloplasty was performed. At three and six months follow-up, SRF value was 29.2% ±8.5% and 30.8.2% ±8.8% respectively. Conclusion: Before planning of nephrectomy in poorly functioning kidneys (SRF < 10%) due to congenital UPJO, PCN drainage should be done to asses improvement of renal function. Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 20, No. 2, July 2017 p.61-64


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1157
Author(s):  
Saverio Capodiferro ◽  
Giuseppe Ingravallo ◽  
Luisa Limongelli ◽  
Mauro Mastropasqua ◽  
Angela Tempesta ◽  
...  

Aims: To report on the clinico-pathological features of a series of 14 intra-oral mucoepidermoid carcinomas showing exclusive intra-cystic growth. Materials and methods: All mucoepidermoid carcinomas diagnosed in the period 1990–2012 were retrieved; the original histological preparations were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and from selected cases, showing exclusive intra-cystic neoplastic components, additional sections were cut at three subsequent 200 m intervals and stained with Hematoxylin–Eosin, PAS, Mucicarmine and Alcian Blue, to possibly identify tumor invasion of the adjacent tissues, which could have been overlooked in the original histological preparations. Additionally, pertinent findings collected from the clinical charts and follow-up data were analyzed. Results: We identified 14 intraoral mucoepidermoid carcinomas treated by conservative surgery and with a minimum follow up of five years. The neoplasms were located in the hard palate (nine cases), the soft palate (two), the cheek (two) and the retromolar trigone (one). In all instances, histological examination revealed the presence of a single cystic space, containing clusters of columnar, intermediate, epidermoid, clear and mucous-producing cells, the latter exhibiting distinct intra-cytoplasmic mucin production, as confirmed by PAS, Mucicarmine and Alcian Blue stains. The cysts were entirely circumscribed by fibrous connective tissue, and no solid areas or infiltrating tumor cell clusters were detected. Conservative surgical resection was performed in all cases, and no recurrences or nodal metastases were observed during follow up. Conclusions: Mucoepidermoid carcinomas showing prominent (>20%) intra-cystic proliferation currently are considered low-grade tumors. In addition, we also unveil the possibility that mucoepidermoid carcinomas, at least in their early growth phase, may display an exclusive intra-cystic component and might be considered as in situ carcinomas, unable to infiltrate adjacent tissues and metastasize.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Piotrowicz ◽  
P Orzechowski ◽  
I Kowalik ◽  
R Piotrowicz

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Health Fund Background. A novel comprehensive care program after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) „KOS-zawał" was implemented in Poland. It includes acute intervention, complex revascularization, implantation of cardiovascular electronic devices (in case of indications), rehabilitation or hybrid telerehabilitation (HTR) and scheduled outpatient follow-up. HTR is a unique component of this program. The purpose of the pilot study was to evaluate a feasibility, safety and patients’ acceptance of HTR as component of a novel care program after AMI and to assess mortality in a one-year follow-up. Methods The study included 55 patients (LVEF 55.6 ± 6.8%; aged 57.5 ± 10.5 years). Patients underwent a 5-week HTR based on Nordic walking, consisting of an initial stage (1 week) conducted within an outpatient center and a basic stage (4-week) home-based telerehabilitation five times weekly. HTR was telemonitored with a device adjusted to register electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and to transmit data via mobile phone network to the monitoring center. The moments of automatic ECG registration were pre-set and coordinated with exercise training. The influence on physical capacity was assessed by comparing changes in functional capacity (METs) from the beginning and the end of HTR. Patients filled in a questionnaire in order to assess their acceptance of HTR at the end of telerehabilitation. Results HTR resulted in a significant improvement in functional capacity and workload duration in exercise test (Table). Safety: there were neither deaths nor adverse events during HTR. Patients accepted HTR, including the need for interactive everyday collaboration with the monitoring center. Prognosis all patients survived in a one-year follow-up. Conclusions Hybrid telerehabilitation is a feasible, safe form of rehabilitation, well accepted by patients. There were no deaths in a one-year follow-up. Outcomes before and after HTR Before telerehabilitation After telerehabilitation P Exercise time [s] 381.5 ± 92.0 513.7 ± 120.2 &lt;0.001 Maximal workload [MET] 7.9 ± 1.8 10.1 ± 2.3 &lt;0.001 Heart rate rest [bpm] 68.6 ± 12.0 66.6 ± 10.9 0.123 Heart rate max effort [bpm] 119.7 ± 15.9 131.0 ± 20.1 &lt;0.001 SBP rest [mmHg] 115.6 ± 14.8 117.7 ± 13.8 0.295 DBP rest [mmHg] 74.3 ± 9.2 76.2 ± 7.3 0.079 SBP max effort [mm Hg] 159.5 ± 25.7 170.7 ± 25.5 0.003 DBP max effort [mm Hg] 84.5 ± 9.2 87.2 ± 9.3 0.043 SBP systolic blood pressure, DBP diastolic blood pressure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Huang ◽  
C Liu

Abstract Background Lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission or discharge was associated with poor outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the optimal long-term SBP for HFpEF was less clear. Purpose To examine the association of long-term SBP and all-cause mortality among patients with HFpEF. Methods We analyzed participants from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) study. Participants had at least two SBP measurements of different times during the follow-up were included. Long-term SBP was defined as the average of all SBP measurements during the follow-up. We stratified participants into four groups according to long-term SBP: &lt;120mmHg, ≥120mmHg and &lt;130mmHg, ≥130mmHg and &lt;140mmHg, ≥140mmHg. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality associated with SBP level. To assess for nonlinearity, we fitted restricted cubic spline models of long-term SBP. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by confining participants with history of hypertension or those with left ventricular ejection fraction≥50%. Results The 3338 participants had a mean (SD) age of 68.5 (9.6) years; 51.4% were women, and 89.3% were White. The median long-term SBP was 127.3 mmHg (IQR 121–134.2, range 77–180.7). Patients in the SBP of &lt;120mmHg group were older age, less often female, less often current smoker, had higher estimated glomerular filtration rate, less often had history of hypertension, and more often had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation. After multivariable adjustment, long-term SBP of 120–130mmHg and 130–140mmHg was associated with a lower risk of mortality during a mean follow-up of 3.3 years (HR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49–0.85, P=0.001; HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.88, P=0.004, respectively); long-term SBP of &lt;120mmHg had similar risk of mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI: 0.78–1.36, P=0.836), compared with long-term SBP of ≥140mmHg. Findings from restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrate that there was J-shaped association between long-term SBP and all-cause mortality (P=0.02). These association was essentially unchanged in sensitivity analysis. Conclusions Among patients with HFpEF, long-term SBP showed a J-shaped pattern with all-cause mortality and a range of 120–140 mmHg was significantly associated with better outcomes. Future randomized controlled trials need to evaluate optimal long-term SBP goal in patients with HFpEF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant (2019M660229 and 2019TQ0380)


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