ABSTRACT
A hipertensão arterial sistêmica representa um dos principais problemas de saúde pública no Brasil e no mundo. O controle pressórico estrito é essencial para a redução de eventos cardiovasculares maiores, pois a pressão arterial sistólica elevada é o principal fator de risco modificável para doenças cardiovasculares e mortalidade total. Ensaios clínicos randomizados prévios, como o SPRINT trial e o STEP trial, geraram evidências robustas sobre os benefícios do alcance de metas pressóricas intensivas na redução de eventos cardiovasculares maiores em pacientes hipertensos de alto risco cardiovascular não-diabéticos e sem acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) prévio. Porém, ainda há dúvidas sobre o benefício de tal estratégia nestas duas populações de pacientes. Para dar uma resposta definitiva a esta questão, os estudos OPTIMAL-DIABETES e OPTIMAL-STROKE estão sendo conduzidos com alto rigor científico no Brasil e estes já são os maiores estudos sobre o tema em nível global. Os resultados destes dois estudos, previstos para 2024/2025, são muito esperados para nos dar as evidências necessárias sobre o benefício do controle pressórico intensivo em pacientes diabéticos e pós-AVC (AU).
Hypertension represents one of the main public health problems in Brazil and in the world. Blood pressure (BP) control is essential to reduce major cardiovascular events, as high systolic BP is the main modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and any-cause deaths. Previous randomized clinical trials, such as the SPRINT trial and the STEP trial, have provided robust evidence on the benefits of intensive BP targets on the reduction of major cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk without diabetes and previous stroke. However, there is still uncertainty about the benefits of such strategy on this two populations of patients. To provide a definitive answer to this question, the OPTIMAL-DIABETES and OPTIMAL-STROKE trials are being conducted with high scientific rigor in Brazil and these are already the biggest studies in this area globally. The results of these two trials, expected in 2024/2025, are long awaited to provide us the necessary evidence on the benefits of intensive BP control in patients with diabetes and patients with stroke (AU).
Subject(s)
Humans , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Stroke/prevention & control , Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Hypertension/drug therapyABSTRACT
Abstract Background Controlling blood pressure and glycemic levels is a challenge that requires innovative solutions. Objective To assess the feasibility of implementing a text message intervention among low-income primary care patients, as well as to assess self-reported behavioral change. Methods A set of 200 text messages was developed on healthy eating, physical activity, adherence, and motivation. Participants from Vale do Mucuri, MG, Brazil diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension or undergoing screening for those diseases, received 5 to 8 messages per week for 6 months. They answered a questionnaire to report their satisfaction and behavioral changes. Results Of the 136 patients, 117 (86.0%) answered the questionnaire. Most reported that the messages were very useful (86.3%), easy to understand (90.6%), and were very helpful for behavioral change (65.0%); 84.6% reported that they had started eating healthier. The most frequent reported lifestyle changes were: improved diet quality (85.5%), reduced portions (65.8%), and weight loss (56.4%). The majority of patients shared the messages (60.7%) with family or other acquaintances, considered the number of messages to be adequate (89.7%) and would recommend the program to others (95.7%). Conclusion An intervention based on text messages to promote behavioral change in patients with hypertension or diabetes in primary care is feasible in low-resource settings. Future studies are needed to assess the program's long-term effects on clinical outcomes.