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Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: September 26, 2018
The constellation of hypertensive heart disease
Harry Pavlopoulos1, Petros Nihoyannopoulos
1Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College of Medicine and Technology, NHLI, London, UK. drpavlo@yahoo.com
Insights
Hypertension is more than high blood pressure; it involves complex abnormalities. Future risk assessment should include traditional factors plus myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Hypertension is a complex disease involving functional and structural abnormalities.
- Recent research has advanced understanding of hypertensive heart disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the multifaceted nature of hypertensive disease.
- To propose expanded risk assessment criteria for hypertensive patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of current research on hypertension and its complications.
- Analysis of traditional and emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Main Results:
- Hypertension presents as a constellation of abnormalities, not just elevated blood pressure.
- Expanded risk assessment should integrate novel markers beyond traditional factors.
Conclusions:
- Hypertensive disease requires a comprehensive view beyond simple blood pressure readings.
- Future cardiovascular risk stratification must incorporate myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.
Abstract:
Hypertension should be regarded not as a simple elevation of blood pressure, but as a constellation of functional and structural abnormalities that create a phenotypic portrait of hypertensive disease. Recent research has expanded our knowledge related to hypertensive heart disease. Future assessment of hypertensive patients' global risk should probably incorporate not only evaluation of the known traditional risk factors, such as hypercholesterolaemia, smoking, glucose levels and left ventricular hypertrophy, but also myocardial fibrosis, microvascular ischaemia, arterial stiffness, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and level of apoptosis.
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