Blood pressure control after solid organ transplantation: opportunities for optimizing care

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nephrology
• Transplant Surgery

Background:

• Hypertension is prevalent in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR), affecting 50%-90%.
• It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in this population.
• Current hypertension management in SOTR requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess blood pressure control one year after solid organ transplantation.
• To identify factors associated with suboptimal blood pressure control in SOTR.
• To highlight potential care gaps in post-transplant hypertension management.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 1112 SOTR from the TransplantLines biobank and cohort study.
• Blood pressure control assessed one year post-transplant using a threshold of >130/80 mmHg.
• Logistic regression used to identify factors associated with suboptimal control.

Main Results:

• 90% of SOTR had hypertension, with 72% experiencing suboptimal control (BP >130/80 mmHg).
• 20% of hypertensive SOTR received no antihypertensive treatment.
• Older age, diabetes, and higher cholesterol were linked to suboptimal control.

Conclusions:

• Nearly three out of four hypertensive SOTR exhibit suboptimal blood pressure control one year post-transplant.
• This indicates a substantial care gap in managing hypertension after solid organ transplantation.
• Targeted interventions are needed to improve blood pressure management in SOTR.