Co-morbidity (HFrEF and HFpEF): hypertension

Abstract

Hypertensive heart disease is a major cause of heart failure (HF) and mortality. Hypertension precedes HF occurrence in 75% of cases, and carries a sixfold increase in HF risk as compared to non-hypertensive individuals. Most importantly, a minority of patients survive 5 years after the onset of hypertensive HF. In hypertensive patients, the heart may present different patterns of adaptive remodelling: concentric remodelling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy. Although most hypertensive patients are at high risk of developing concentric hypertrophy, a growing proportion of subjects display a concentric-to-eccentric progression eventually leading to left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction. Several factors including myocardial ischaemia, ethnicity, genetic background, history of diabetes, and blood pressure pattern may significantly influence the pathway from hypertension to left ventricular dilation. Patients with a concentric hypertrophy usually develop HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), whereas those with an eccentric (dilated) phenotype develop HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Lowering blood pressure has a striking effect in reducing the risk of HF. Although available antihypertensive drugs are all successful in lowering blood pressure, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blocker (ARBs), and diuretics are more effective than other drug classes in preventing HF. The combination of the neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril with the ARB valsartan (LCZ696) has recently been shown to be highly effective in reducing HF-related outcomes in hypertensive subjects. An individualized treatment scheme taking into account blood pressure levels, type of HF (HFpEF or HFrEF), and relevant co-morbidities (i.e. renal disease, diabetes) is currently the best approach to improve morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients with HF.