Heart failure in hypertension: prevention and treatment

Abstract

The heart failure epidemic calls for urgent prevention efforts. Hypertension is present in the majority of individuals who develop heart failure and carries the highest population-attributable risk for heart failure together with coronary heart disease. Therefore, hypertension is a natural prime target for prevention interventions. However, a substantial proportion of heart failure develops among individuals with a systolic BP (SBP) level below current therapeutic target recommendations (140 mmHg or 130 mmHg for high-risk groups), which are accepted as 'normal' levels, underlining the importance of prehypertension for heart failure development. Prevalence and incidence of both hypertension and prehypertension are high. Efforts to prevent or attenuate BP rise could lead to a substantial reduction of complications, including heart failure development. Lifestyle modifications play a crucial role in preventing elevation of BP levels and better control of high BP. Weight loss, control of sodium intake and diet, and physical activity are essential steps towards this direction. However, when medications are needed to reduce BP levels, the selection of the appropriate agent is important not only for effective control of BP but also to reduce hypertension-related complications. Diuretics and renin-angiotensin system modulators seem to be the most effective agents for heart failure prevention according to the existing evidence. Patients with heart failure and hypertension should be treated for hypertension based on the same principles, although medication selection should take into account concomitant medications, other risk factors and type of heart failure (reduced vs preserved left ventricular ejection fraction).