Latest hypertension research to inform clinical practice in Asia

Abstract

Despite the challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic, the last 2 years have been active periods for hypertension research and initiatives in Asia. There are new hypertension guidelines from the World Health Organization that can be interpreted and applied locally. This is also the case for data from the latest Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists' Collaboration meta-analysis, which showed that greater reductions in systolic blood pressure (BP) are associated with lower risks of cardiovascular events. The randomized controlled Strategy of Blood Pressure Intervention in the Elderly Hypertensive study and the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study provide local data to inform practice. Other initiatives to help reduce high salt intake in Asia are also underway. Both drug-resistant and nocturnal hypertension are appropriate areas of focus in Asia, and there are an increasing number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for these conditions. Digital therapeutics to promote uptake and implementation of lifestyle interventions are showing promise, and other digital-based strategies such as telemedicine, wearable BP monitors to detect beat-by-beat BP and artificial intelligence will no doubt become integral parts of future strategies to reduce the burden of hypertension and hypertension-related disease. A number of initiatives from the Hypertension Cardiovascular Outcome Prevention and Evidence in Asia Network and Japanese Society of hypertension are underway, and there is good reason for optimism regarding the ongoing and future management of hypertension in Asia based on these and the active research activities in the region.

Keywords: Antihypertensives; Artificial intelligence; Blood pressure monitoring; Cardiovascular risk; Digital therapeutics; Hypertension.