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Biomedical subjects

O Hanon

Publications and source records attributed to O Hanon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Heart failure with preserved systolic function: a diagnostic algorithm for a pragmatic definition.

Heart failure is a major health problem which often concerns the elderly. Prevalence of heart failure with preserved systolic function is increasing and varies from 40 to 50%. In the literature, and in the large epidemiological studies, it is commonly designed with the term of "diastolic heart failure", even if a precise analysis of diastolic function is not performed. A diagnostic algorithm is proposed in order to better define the concept of heart failure with preserved systolic function. It consists of seven steps from symptoms and clinical signs to the echocardiographic analysis of diastolic function, in order to confirm the definition of heart failure with preserved systolic function.

Algorithms↗

[Cognitive functions and hypertension].

The prevention of cognitive disorders and dementia represents a major challenge in the coming years. Hypertension is one of the principal risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases and is also closely correlated with cognitive decline and dementia. Most longitudinal studies have shown that cognitive functioning is often inversely proportional to blood pressure values measured 15 or 20 years previously. The higher blood pressure was, the poorer cognitive function is. Data from recent therapeutic trials (SYST-EUR, PROGRESS) open the way toward the prevention of dementia (vascular or Alzheimer's type) by antihypertensive treatments. In this context, the effect of antihypertensive treatment on cognitive functions should represent one of the primary criteria of assessment in future morbidity and mortality studies in hypertensive patients.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Evolution of blood pressure in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a one year survey of a French Cohort (REAL.FR).

OBJECTIVES: To determine the evolution of blood pressure in patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease among a one year longitudinal survey and to evaluate the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive functions. METHODS: In 327 subjects selected from the French research program on Alzheimer's disease (REAL.FR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were measured at the time of inclusion (M0), after 6 months (M6) and after 12 months (M12). All subjects were assessed to determine both cognitive functions and capabilities in the activities of daily living using validated cognitive scales [Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale--Cognitive part (ADAS-Cog), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)], at M0, M6, M12. RESULTS: In this population of patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease, mean age was 78 +/- 7 years and 242 subjects were females (74%). After adjustment for age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and antihypertensive therapy, a significant decrease of blood pressure was observed between M0 and M12, for SBP (139.1 +/- 18 to 136.5 +/- 17 mmHg, p < 0.05) and DBP, (77.6 +/- 12 to 75.8 +/- 10 mmHg , p < 0.05). Demented subjects with the worst cognitive impairment at baseline (tertile1 MMSE, tertile 3 ADAS-Cog, ADL scores between 0 and 4, CDR scores between 10 to 18) showed a larger decrease in SBP and DBP after 12 months. The worst impairment in dementia at baseline was associated with the highest SBP decrease between M0 and M12 (delta SBP tertile 1 MMSE vs tertile 3 MMSE = -5.9 vs + 1.0 mmHg , p < 0.05; Delta SBP tertile 3 ADAS-Cog vs tertile 1 ADAS-Cog = - 5.98 vs + 2.98 mmHg, p < 0.05, Delta SBP ADL 0-4 vs ADL -6 = - 8.7 vs -1.5 mmHg, p < 0.05, delta SBP CDR 10-18 vs CDR 0.5-9.5 = - 6.9 vs -1.7 mmHg, p < 0.05). All these results persisted after adjustment for age, gender and the antihypertensive therapy. Baseline SBP [OR 95% CI = 1.05 (1.02-1.08), BMI [OR 95% CI = 0.88 (0.81-0.95)], ADL score [OR 95% CI = 0.42 (0.22-0.81)] and ADAS-Cog score [OR 95% CI = 1.07 (1.01-1.14)] were significantly associated with the decrease of blood pressure after one year of follow up, independently of age, gender and antihypertensive therapy. In contrast, patients with larger blood pressure decrease (over 10 mmHg reduction of SBP and/or 5 mmHg of DBP) did not demonstrate a more significant worsening of dementia at 12 months in the different scales used. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a significant decrease in blood pressure in patients with Alzheimer's disease after one year of follow up, independently of age, gender, BMI and antihypertensive therapy. The largest decrease in blood pressure was observed in patients with the most severe impairment in dementia at baseline, suggesting that blood pressure decrease seems to be mainly a secondary phenomenon in Alzheimer's disorders.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Diuretics for cardiovascular prevention in the elderly.

High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in elderly subjects. Antihypertensive drugs have shown clinical benefit both in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. If BP lowering represents the major determinant of the effects conferred by the antihypertensive treatment for prevention, recent studies have suggested some differences between classes of antihypertensive drugs according to age. Based on the available clinical data, the recent medical guidelines have recommended thiazide-type diuretics as the preferred drug for the treatment of elderly hypertensive patients, followed by long-acting calcium antagonists. Indeed, diuretics constitute one of the most valuable classes of antihypertensive drugs, and in the elderly, diuretic-based treatment studies have been clearly shown to prevent major cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure and coronary heart disease.

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[Relationship between arterial pressure and cognitive functions. Data for the French Network on Alzheimer's disease (REAL.FR)].

UNLABELLED: The relationships between arterial hypertension and cognitive decline are complex and studies indicate controversial results. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, in a cross sectional study, the relationships between cognitive functions and blood pressure in a population of subjects with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: In 520 subjects of a survey in a French population with Alzheimer's disease, relationships between the severity of cognitive decline and a history of hypertension or blood pressure level have been searched. Cognitive functioning was assessed with validated neuropsychological tests evaluating cognitive functions and the capacities in the activities of daily living (Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale--Cognitive part (ADAS-Cog), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) of Reisberg). In 456 subjects blood pressure was measured during the consultation. RESULTS: The results indicate that after adjustment on age, sex, education level, and the other cardiovascular risk factors, subjects with a history of hypertension have a more marked cognitive decline than subjects without history of hypertension. Indeed, in subjects with a history of hypertension, the cognitive impairment and its consequences on activities of daily living are more important than in subjects without history of hypertension (ADAS-cog 19.02 +/- 8.48 vs 17.49 +/- 8.53 p = 0.06, MMSE 19.55 +/- 4.41 vs 20.30 +/- 4.42, p = 0.08, score ADL 5.31 +/- 0.86 vs 5.51 +/- 0.87, p = 0.01, CDR 6.94 +/- 3.29 vs 6.19 +/- 3.26 p = 0.03; global CDR 1.18 +/- 0.62 vs 1.05 +/- 0.60, p = 0.03, GDS of Reisberg 4.41 +/- 0.74 vs 4.27 +/- 0.75, p = 0.05). In contrast, no relation between blood pressure measurements and cognitive function is observed, and moreover an inverse correlation between blood pressure and consequences on activities of daily living is found. CONCLUSIONS: This work indicates that relationships between blood pressure and cognitive functions are more complex than a simple linear relation. The present results show that a history of arterial hypertension is associated with a more marked cognitive decline in subjects with Alzheimer's disease. In contrast, when the Alzheimer's disease is already developed no relation between blood pressure and cognitive functions appears and moreover an inverse correlation with the consequences on activities of daily living is found.

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[Cognitive decline and hypertension].

The prevalence and incidence of degenerative and vascular dementia increase exponentially with age. Several studies in recent years have implicated hypertension as a risk factor not only for vascular dementia but also for degenerative dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. This is an important finding because it suggests that the treatment of hypertension could reduce the incidence of dementia. In particular, the results of the Syst-Eur study, showing that a calcium inhibitor, nitrendipine, could reduce not only the incidence of stroke but also that of dementia, should be confirmed.

Adult↗

[Reflexion of French experts on the key points of the symposium].

The French experts present at the Eutherapy Symposium held in Prague confirmed the importance of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and microalbuminuria as major independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Factors that must be considered for the treatment of hypertension in patients, particularly with type 2 diabetes. Professor J.M. Mallion stressed the contribution of thiazide and thiazide-like diruetics as indapamid, especially the 1.5 mg SR formulation. Professor F. Forette and Doctor O. Hanon recalled that the HYVET study is expected to confirm the beneficial effect of this same treatment on morbidity and mortality in very elderly patients. Professor O. Dubourg recalled the beneficial effect of indapamid SR on LVH demonstrated in the LIVE study. Likewise, Professor M. Marre emphasized its important impact on microalbuminuria as shown in the NESTOR study.

Adult↗

Hypertension and dementia.

The increase in life expectancy is associated with a sharp rise in cognitive disorders, particularly after the age of 80 years. The identification and management of risk factors for these invalidating and distressing conditions must be considered a priority. The fact that antihypertensive treatment has been demonstrated to decrease that risk offers a new opportunity to reduce the prevalence of such related disorders and promote healthy aging.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

[Cerebral complications of hypertension in the elderly].

PURPOSE: This review focuses on cerebral complications of hypertension, which include stroke, impairment of cognitive function, dementia, and possibly depression and anxiety. These conditions are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Not only elevated diastolic blood pressure, but also isolated systolic hypertension and elevated pulse pressure play an important role in the development of brain complications. Randomised placebo-controlled trials have provided evidence that reduction of hypertension decreases safely and effectively morbidity and mortality rates in the elderly. The new classes of drugs, in particular calcium-channels blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, have been shown to be as effective as the originally used diuretics and beta-blockers. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: Several trials are currently in progress and should provide more information on the benefit of antihypertensive treatment in very elderly persons (Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial, HYVET) and secondary prevention of stroke (PROGRESS). The importance of assessing new dosages of the presently used antihypertensive drugs as well as the benefit of new classes of drugs is emphasised. Further trials specifically focusing on the prevention of dementia by antihypertensive drugs are needed to confirm the results of the Syst-Eur Vascular Dementia Project. The benefit of calcium antagonists in the prevention of dementia in elderly hypertensive patients should be assessed in the Dementia Prevention in Hypertension trial (DEPHY).

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Endothelin gene variants and aortic and cardiac structure in never-treated hypertensives.

BACKGROUND: The polymorphism of several candidate genes has been studied in relation to essential hypertension and cardiovascular complications. Target organ damage in essential hypertension is a complex disorder influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. The possible contribution of endothelin gene variants to target organ damage in hypertension in humans has not been studied in depth. PROCEDURE: We assessed the influence of genetic variants of components of the endothelin system ETAR -231A/G, 1363C/T, ETBR 30G/A and endothelin-1 (ET-1) 138insertion/deletion (I/D) on aortic stiffness, left ventricular geometric, and radial artery parameters in 528 never-treated hypertensive subjects of European origin. The study population included 314 men and 214 women with a mean age of 48+/-0.5 years (+/-SEM). In samples of patients, aortic stiffness was assessed with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Radial artery thickness was measured with an echotracking angiometer and left ventricular geometric parameter with standard echographic procedures. RESULTS: The main results showed that the ETAR-231A/G (P = .022) and the ETBR 30G/A (P = .026) receptor gene variants influenced PWV level in women. The -231G and 30G alleles were associated with a codominant increase in PWV, explaining 18.6% of its variability (P = .005). In men, the ETBR 30G/A receptor gene variant was also related to the level of radial artery parameters (P = .02). No association between the 138I/D polymorphism of the ET-1 gene and left ventricular and radial artery parameters was observed in either men or women. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the influence of endothelin system genes can be detected first on arterial parameters.

Adult↗

Aging, carotid artery distensibility, and the Ser422Gly elastin gene polymorphism in humans.

Elastin is a protein of the extracellular matrix that forms the major component of elastic fibers from the arterial wall thickness and plays an important role in elastic properties of large blood vessels. To study the relationships between the Ser422Gly polymorphism in exon 16 of the gene-encoding elastin and the distensibility of 2 different arteries, the radial artery (a muscular artery) and the common carotid artery (an elastic artery), we studied a cohort of 320 subjects (49+/-12 years of age) without evidence of cardiovascular disease and who had never been treated with cardiovascular drugs. Distensibility and elastic modulus were evaluated for the common carotid and the radial arteries with high-resolution echo-tracking devices (NIUS-02 and Wall Track System). The A-to-G nucleotide change corresponding to the Ser422Gly amino acid change was studied by digestion of polymerase chain reaction products with BstNI. Results indicate that genotype frequencies (AA=10%, AG=51%, GG=39%) were in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. For the carotid artery, a significant decrease in distensibility was observed in subjects carrying the A allele (with AA+AG genotypes) compared with subjects with the GG genotype (13.8+/-6.4 kPa(-1). 10(-3) versus 15.9+/-6.2 kPa(-1). 10(-3), P<0.01), assuming a dominant effect of the A allele. Moreover, the presence of the A allele was associated with a significant increase in elastic modulus (0.98+/-0.40 kPa. 10(3) in subjects with AA+AG genotypes versus 0.83+/-0.41 kPa. 10(3) in subjects with GG genotypes, P<0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that these results were observed after adjustment for age, gender, and mean arterial blood pressure (P<0.01). In contrast, no association was found between arterial parameters and genotypes for the radial artery. The 2-way analysis of covariance adjusted for mean arterial blood pressure indicated that the association between the A allele and distensibility of the carotid artery was observed only in subjects >50 years of age, assuming for carotid distensibility a significant age effect (P<0.01), genotype effect (P=0.01), and age-genotype interaction (P=0.04). The present results indicate a relationship between the Ser422Gly polymorphism and the distensibility of elastic arteries but not of muscular arteries and suggest that there is an age-genotype interaction for carotid artery distensibility.

Aging↗

[Evaluation of patient compliance among hypertensive patients treated by specialists].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate compliance with antihypertensive therapy by a self-report in patients referred to hypertension specialists. METHODS: We studied 484 treated hypertensive subjects referred to several hypertension clinics and who were treated since at least one year. Patients were asked to fill in the Compliance Evaluation Test (CET), a questionnaire with 6 questions previously validated to assess factors that could affect medication compliance. We defined patients as "good compliant" when "No" was answered to the 6 items, as "minor noncompliant" when 1 or 2 "Yes" were answered, and as "noncompliant" when 3 or more "Yes" were answered. A good agreement was demonstrated between CET score and compliance evaluated by the number of pills missed during the previous month according to patient interview. RESULTS: We observed 8% of "noncompliant", 53% of "minor noncompliant" and 39% of "good compliant". [table: see text] Logistic regression analysis including age, sex, education level, blood pressure level and the number of antihypertensive tablets confirm the statistical differences observed. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, a method of assessing medication compliance is to ask the patient for a self-report interview. We demonstrated that the compliance evaluation test is able to detect factors usually associated with poor compliance (young age, elevated blood pressure, number of tablets per day). The use of the compliance evaluation test may help physicians to face the problem of nonadherence among their hypertensive patients.

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[Blood pressure self-monitoring contributes to improved patient education among hypertensive subjects].

UNLABELLED: Education of hypertensive subject must sensitize the patient to its pathway and to the prescribed treatment. Self-measurement of blood pressure, which directly implicates the patient, should ameliorate the education of hypertensive subject. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if the possession of a self-measurement blood pressure device improves patients' knowledge of hypertension. METHODS: In 484 treated hypertensive subjects referred to hypertension specialists, a questionnaire evaluating patients knowledge of hypertension and its treatment was given before the consultation. During this consultation, the practitioner evaluated the concordance between antihypertensive treatments declared by the patient and those effectively prescribed. RESULTS: In this population, aged 61 +/- 12 years, with 55% of men, a self-measurement blood pressure device was possessed by 165 subjects (34%). These devices have been bought without medical advice by 83 patients. For a minority of subjects (n = 41), self-measurements of blood pressure were made at the wrist. Blood pressure level was similar in subjects with (141 +/- 19/80 +/- 10 mmHg) or without (140 +/- 19/80 +/- 10 mmHg) self-measurement devices. Subjects possessing a self measurement device had a better knowledge of their usual blood pressure level and of the normal blood pressure values (< 140/90 mmHg), than subjects without self measurement device (93% vs 77%, p < 0.01, and 56% vs 33%, p < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, subjects in possession of self-measurement devices had a better knowledge of their antihypertensive treatment than those without device (83% vs 70%, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis including age, sex, smoking, education level, blood pressure level and the number of antihypertensive tablets confirm the statistical differences observed. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive subjects who possess a self-measurement blood pressure device have a better knowledge of their hypertension. These results indicate that the possession of a self-measurement device contributes to the education of hypertensive patients.

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[Influence of protocol on the quality of blood pressure self-monitoring].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the minimum number of self-measurements of blood pressure to provide the maximum quality and reliability during home-blood pressure monitoring. METHODS: We studied 38 hypertensive subjects in which we compared self-reported with electronically stored home BP (OMRON HEM 720 CIC). Subjects were asked to measure BP in the sitting position, three times consecutively in the morning and three times in the evening during 7 consecutive days. BP values over the 7 days were averaged and the differences with BP recorded over the first day (6 values per day), the first 2 days, the first 3 days, the first 4 days, the first 5 days and the first 6 days were calculated. Confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: We observed that 47% of patients completed the entire protocol (42 measurements over 7 days), but 89% completed 4 days with 6 measurements. Erroneous reporting was evident in 10% of patients. In patients which performed 100% of the 42 planned values, confidence interval for the mean value was < 4 mmHg for SBP and < 3 mmHg for DBP when the patient completed a 4 days protocol with a minimum of 4 measurements per day. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that determining average home blood pressure over 4 consecutive days with 2 measurements twice daily, is the minimum protocol that provides a reliable estimate of home blood pressure with a good quality of patient reporting.

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Association between the apolipoprotein E polymorphism and arterial wall thickness in asymptomatic adults.

OBJECTIVES: The polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E gene (epsilon2, epsilon3, epsilon4) affects plasma cholesterol but the relationship with artery wall thickness has indicated contradictory results. This study investigated the relationship between apolipoprotein E polymorphism and vascular phenotypes of the carotid and radial arteries, two arterial sites differently affected by atherosclerosis. METHODS: We studied a cohort of 320 Caucasian subjects (age 49 +/- 12 years) without evidence of cardiovascular disease. Structural (internal diameter and wall thickness) and functional phenotypes (compliance, distensibility) were evaluated for the common carotid and the radial arteries using high resolution echo-tracking devices. Genotypes of apolipoprotein E were determined by allele-specific oligonucleotides hybridization. Because of the relative low frequency of some apolipoprotein E genotypes, they were designated as E2 (epsilon2/epsilon2, epsilon2/epsilon3), E3 (epsilon3/epsilon3), and E4 (epsilon4/epsilon4, epsilon3/epsilon4). RESULTS: Apolipoprotein E allele frequencies were epsilon2 = 0.08, epsilon3 = 0.79, epsilon4 = 0.13. Subjects with epsilon4 allele had the highest levels of total serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol; subjects with epsilon2 allele had the lowest levels (P < 0.001). Considering carotid hypertrophy as intima-media thickness > 660 microm, and radial hypertrophy as intima-media thickness > 260 microm, a logistic regression model testing determinants of arterial hypertrophy (age, gender, weight, systolic blood pressure, smoking habits, and total serum cholesterol) observed a significant and positive association between carotid hypertrophy and epsilon2 allele carriers (P= 0.03). In contrast, no association was found between hypertrophy and apolipoprotein E genotypes for the radial artery. No association was observed between the apolipoprotein E genotypes and functional artery parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects without any evidence of cardiovascular disease, the presence of the epsilon2 allele is related to wall hypertrophy in carotid artery despite favourable effect on the lipid profile.

Adult↗

[The estimation of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients is not modified by management of the hypertension].

OBJECTIVES: To compare antihypertensive therapeutic strategies and efficacy whether the physicians were aware or not of the calculated cardiovascular risk at 10 years obtained from the Framingham equation. It was also possible to evaluate the concordance of the general physicians estimation of the cardiovascular risk with the calculated percentage. METHODS: The participation of 953 general physicians to the study allowed to achieve an estimation of the absolute cardiovascular risk for 1,243 hypertensives. Patients were randomised in 2 groups according to the knowledge or not by the physicians of the calculated risk. The therapeutic strategy included a monotherapy (Fosinopril 20 mg/days) for a follow up of 8 weeks, with the possibility to increase the treatment after 4 weeks (Fosinopril + hydrochlorotiazide). To be included, patients had to be more than 18 and less than 75 years, and a blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg. Estimated and calculated cardiovascular risk at 10 years, were classified according to the 1999 WHO-ISH guidelines: low risk < 15%, medium risk 15-20%, high risk 20-30%, very high risk > 30%. RESULTS: In this population, aged 60 +/- 10 years, with 54% of men, the concordance between estimated risk and calculated risk was of 35%. This concordance was better for the "low risk" and "very high risk", but remains inferior to 50%. The determinants of concordance were: gender (male), smoking and a low HDL cholesterol. After 8 weeks of treatment, no difference was observed between the 2 groups concerning final blood pressure level, percentage of normalised patients and number of patients with bi-therapy. CONCLUSIONS: General physicians estimation of cardiovascular risk at 10 years of hypertensive subjects has a bad concordance with the calculated risk according to Framingham equation. The results of this study indicate that the estimation of cardiovascular risk of hypertensive subjects does not modify the management of hypertension.

Adult↗