Hypertension

High blood pressure increases a patient's risk of heart attack, stroke and other diseases. Most people with hypertension have no symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension, or high blood pressure, and only about 1 in 4 of those individuals has their hypertension under control. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the epidemic of hypertension world-wide will exceed 1.56 billion people by 2025. Major efforts are underway to better control this primary risk factor through screenings, medication and invasive procedures such as renal denervation in severely uncontrolled patients.

The Medtronic Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation system uses a catheter that curls in the renal artery to place radiofrequency electrodes against the vessel wall to ablate the nerves that control vasodilation, so the artery can be propped in the fully open position.

CMS proposes Medicare coverage for renal denervation

This proposal, if finalized, would dramatically increase patient access to renal denervation. Both Recor Medical and Medtronic have shared their excitement over the news.

aktiia hilo band cuffless blood pressure monitor

‘The start of a paradigm shift’: FDA clears first over-the-counter cuffless blood pressure monitor

The cuffless technology, which has already gained CE mark approval, should make its U.S. debut in 2026.

cardiovascular heart diagnostics

Heart attack deaths are way down after decades of breakthroughs—but other risks have skyrocketed

Researchers explored more than 52 years of data, highlighting several key trends in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

cardiologist doctor physician patient black diverse hypertension

FDA approves 3-in-1 polypill for hypertension

Widaplik, the new polypill from George Medicines, includes telmisartan, amlodipine and indapamide. The FDA's decision comes after positive data were published in both JACC and The Lancet.

Study finds 35 million patients may be eligible for renal denervation

However, eligibility alone does not mean a patient will benefit from treatment.

Cuffless blood pressure measurement devices: Convenient, but not ready for clinical use

Cuffless BP measurements could potentially provide significant value for clinicians and patients alike. It is still too early, however, for these technologies to be used in a clinical setting; too many unanswered questions remain.

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Rates of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes keep climbing in US

As time goes on, the gaps between the healthiest states and the least healthy states are only getting wider and wider. "Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted strategies to reduce state-based inequities in cardiometabolic risk factors,” researchers wrote. 

Orchestra BioMed Holdings AVIM Therapy FDA breakthrough device

FDA sees potential in new pacemaker-guided hypertension therapy

Orchestra BioMed and Medtronic have worked together on the new therapy, which is designed to work automatically without patients needing to take any additional steps.

Around the web

One of the most formidable societies of medical professionals in the U.S. is going toe-to-toe with Robert F. Kennedy’s HHS over changing vaccination recommendations. 

Tom Price, MD, former secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), said one way to address the growing shortage of physicians is to expand medical resident positions, but these are tied to Medicare spending so alternative means may be needed.