Asian management of hypertension: Current status, home blood pressure, and specific concerns in Japan.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of salt intake reduction in hypertension management strategies in Japan.
Results Summary
The study found that reducing salt intake is an important part of hypertension management in Japan, alongside other interventions like home BP monitoring and antihypertensive medications. Lifestyle modifications, including salt reduction, were highlighted as key to achieving lower target BP levels.
Population
Japanese population, particularly those with hypertension (affecting up to 60% of males and 45% of females).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
home BP monitoring (HBPM) | increase | cardiovascular event occurrence | Japan | - | is a better predictor | #1 |
home BP monitoring (HBPM) | decrease | control of hypertension | Japan | new lower target BP levels (office BP < 130/80 mm Hg and home BP < 125/75 mm Hg) | strongly recommend the use | #2 |
lifestyle modifications, especially reducing salt intake | decrease | hypertension management | Japan | - | are also an important part | #3 |
calcium channel blockers | neutral | antihypertensive agents | Japan | - | are the most commonly used | #4 |
angiotensin receptor blockers | neutral | antihypertensive agents | Japan | - | are the second most commonly used | #5 |
combination of agents from these two classes | neutral | combination therapy | Japan | - | is the most popular | #6 |
calcium channel blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers | decrease | stroke | South East Asian countries | more effectively than other antihypertensives | have been shown to reduce | #7 |
home and ambulatory BP monitoring techniques | neutral | morning hypertension, nocturnal hypertension, and BP variability | - | - | is needed to monitor | #8 |
Information and communication technology-based monitoring platforms and wearable devices | decrease | hypertension | Japan | - | are expected to facilitate better management | #9 |
Hypertension is highly prevalent in Japan, affecting up to 60% of males and 45% of females. Stroke is the main adverse cardiovascular event, occurring at a higher rate than acute myocardial infarction. Reducing blood pressure (BP) therefore has an important role to play in decreasing morbidity and mortality. The high use of home BP monitoring (HBPM) in Japan is a positive, and home BP is a better predictor of cardiovascular event occurrence than office BP. New 2019 Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines strongly recommend the use of HBPM to facilitate control of hypertension to new lower target BP levels (office BP < 130/80 mm Hg and home BP < 125/75 mm Hg). Lifestyle modifications, especially reducing salt intake, are also an important part of hypertension management strategies in Japan. The most commonly used antihypertensive agents are calcium channel blockers followed by angiotensin receptor blockers, and the combination of agents from these two classes is the most popular combination therapy. These agents are appropriate choices in South East Asian countries given that they have been shown to reduce stroke more effectively than other antihypertensives. Morning hypertension, nocturnal hypertension, and BP variability are important targets for antihypertensive therapy based on their association with target organ damage and cardiovascular events. Use of home and ambulatory BP monitoring techniques is needed to monitor these important hypertension phenotypes. Information and communication technology-based monitoring platforms and wearable devices are expected to facilitate better management of hypertension in Japan in the future.