Abstract-Detection of hypertension and blood pressure control are critically important for reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. We analyzed the trends in the prevalence, awareness, treatment,

Diabetes and hypertension frequently occur together. There is substantial overlap between diabetes and hypertension in etiology and disease mechanisms. Obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance are thought to be the common pathways. Recent advances in the understanding of these pathways have provided new insights and perspectives. Physical activity plays an important protective role in the two diseases. Knowing the common causes and disease mechanisms allows a more effective and proactive approach in their prevention and treatment.

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Abstract-Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in women. We, therefore, analyzed gender-specific trends in the control of blood pressure and prevalence of 5 other cardiovascular risk factors (central obesity, elevated total cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyperglycemia, and smoking) among adults with diagnosed hypertension in the United States. We included 3475 participants aged Ն18 years with diagnosed hypertension in the National Health 4,5 there is a need to improve our understanding of the factors that influence blood pressure control in women with hypertension.Other than hypertension, cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and diabetes are also major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. 6,7 Hypertension clusters with obesity, dyslipidemia, and elevated glucose level. The presence of these metabolic risk factors correlates with uncontrolled blood pressure and augments the cardiovascular risk in hypertensive individuals. 8 Therefore, blood pressure control needs to be considered in conjunction with the control of other concomitant cardiovascular risk factors. We previously reported an improvement in blood pressure control rates among all adults with hypertension and among those with drug treatment in the United

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AimsSince 2002, there have been five major outcome trials of statins reporting findings from more than 47 000 subjects. As individual trial results differed, we performed a meta-analysis to ascertain the effectiveness and safety of statins overall and in subgroups. The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of statins on major coronary events and strokes, all-cause mortality and noncardiovascular mortality, and in different subgroups. MethodsPubMed was searched for trials published in English. Randomized placebo-controlled statin trials with an average follow up of at least 3 years and at least 100 major coronary events were included. For each trial, the statin used, number and type of subjects, proportion of women, mean age and follow up, baseline and change in lipid profile, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes were recorded. ResultsTen trials involving 79 494 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. Due to heterogeneity, ALLHAT-LLT was excluded from some analyses. Statin therapy reduced major coronary events by 27% (95%CI 23, 30%), stroke by 18% (95%CI 10, 25%) and all-cause mortality by 15% (95%CI 8, 21%). There was a 4% (95%CI -10, 3%) nonsignificant reduction in noncardiovascular mortality. The reduction in major coronary events is independent of gender and presence of hyper tension or diabetes. The risk reduction was greater in smokers ( P < 0.05). Coronary events were reduced by 23% (95%CI 18, 29%) in pravastatin trials and 29% (95%CI 25, 33%) in five trials using other statins. Pravastatin reduced strokes by 12% (95%CI 1, 21%) whilst other statins reduced strokes by 24% (95%CI 16, 32%) ( P = 0.04). ConclusionsStatins reduce coronary events, strokes and all-cause mor tality without increasing noncoronary mortality. The benefits accrue in men and women, hypertensives and normotensives, diabetics and nondiabetics, and particularly in smokers. Pravastatin appears to have less impact on strokes.

Plasma urotensin II was raised in hypertensive patients compared to normotensive controls, and was directly related to systolic blood pressure. Our findings raise the possibility that urotensin II may have an aetiological role in hypertension and its complications.

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