Book brings new guidelines for the management of patients with high blood pressure (arterial hypertension) and the latest views on

Fifth edition of professional medical book "Arterial Hypertension" published

18. 6. 2004

Upon publication of the fifth edition of the professional medical book Arterial Hypertension, its editors and reviewers, Asst. Dr. Rok Accetto, Asst. Dr. Jurij Dobovišek, Prof. Dr. Miran Kenda and Prof. Dr. Pavel Poredoš prepared a presentation of this book and summary of its key messages for healthcare professionals. This event took place on Friday, 18 June 2004, in the premises of Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Ljubljana, Slovenia. The fifth edition of the book Arterial Hypertension not only contains new guidelines for the management of patients with arterial hypertension, but goes even further in the therapeutic part. It brings the latest views on controlling hypertension with medications. The basic purpose of the book is to advance the present knowledge of health professionals regarding high blood pressure and its consequences. Both the fourth and fifth editions of this book were enabled by Lek, which thus reaffirmed its constant and significant support to the education of doctors.

As was emphasised by its editors and coauthors, Asst. Dr. Rok Accetto and Asst. Dr. Jurij Dobovišek, at the presentation, the fifth edition of this book has two basic messages and discusses the following two main topics: 1) assessment of a patient’s risk for the development of cardiovascular complications in the next ten years, which determines the appropriate method of treatment (the book recommends the necessary diagnostic tests) and 2) treatment or control of blood pressure in general, and management of the many accompanying disorders and consequences of hypertension, which require a specific approach. As its previous editions, this book is primarily intended for the professional public – physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Compared to the previous editions, the fifth edition of the book focuses much more on controlling of hypertension with medications, so-called pharmacotherapy. It is well known that a healthy lifestyle and good habits are a prerequisite of successful medical control of hypertension. However, studies to date have not yet provided relevant research evidence which would prove that cardiovascular morbidity and mortality can be successfully reduced with a healthy lifestyle alone. For treatment to be successful, a physician should know the patient well so as to be able to asses the risk, as well as individual medications and their effects. At the same time, the dosage should always be individually adjusted to the patient. The guidelines recommended in this book provide only a framework into which the majority of patients will fit, but not everyone.

It was already mentioned that both the fourth and the fifth editions of Arterial Hypertension were made possible by Lek. Upon this occasion, Ms Andreja Žerdoner, Lek’s director of Sales Pharmaceuticals for Slovenia said: “Supporting the education of health professionals is one of our permanent goals. We are proud to stand by top level Slovene experts, who unselfishly pass their knowledge on to their colleagues. Arterial hypertension is one of the best examples of such cooperation, which certainly contributes to a better quality of patient management. In addition, our efforts have been increasingly oriented to the field of patient education as well. Special care is devoted to increasing awareness about diseases for which timely recognition of typical symptoms and appropriate management are especially important. In our collection of brochures for patients, four topics have been discussed so far: allergic rhinitis, heartburn, high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia”.

In addition to two editions of Arterial Hypertension, Lek has also sponsored the publication of a Rheumatology Manual and Guidelines for the treatment of GERB. It has also published 12 brochures as part of the series “For health education” that discuss medical topics such as asthma in adults, insomnia, hyperlipidemia, treatment of respiratory infections, depression and others. As a new member of Sandoz Group, Lek continually nurtures a reliable partnership with the Slovene health care system and Slovene society alike, offering its effective, safe, high quality and affordable medications. With its humanitarian orientations, environmental protection activities, a high degree of social responsibility and last, but not least, support to the development of the medical and pharmaceutical professions, Lek shows a particular concern for public health and improvement of the quality of life, in the widest sense of these words.

About the disease: Arterial hypertension – high blood pressure

Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) is both a separate entity and a strong risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Its incidence in the population is very high. Epidemiological studies have shown that in developed countries of Central and Northern Europe, it occurs in about 45 percent of the population aged above 35 years (on average). This range also applies to Slovenia. Arterial hypertension alone can cause death if the blood pressure is very high. However, much more often it results in or affects the development of heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, renal diseases and disorders of other arteries anywhere in the body, in conjunction with other risk factors. Arterial hypertension can be diagnosed relatively easily. Theoretically, it is also accessible to treatment and in the majority of cases, insufficient results of treatment are primarily due to our own weaknesses. There is solid evidence that it is possible to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular and renal diseases by lowering blood pressure alone. If elimination or appropriate control of other risk factors, such as smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity etc. are added, the success of treatment can be further increased. Therefore, arterial hypertension is always managed together with other risk factors. Unfortunately, the control of all risk factors is still inadequate in Slovenia. The only encouraging news is that smoking among men has decreased significantly in recent years in Slovenia.

***
For further information please call ++386 (01) 580 22 43 E-mail: korporativno.komuniciranje@lek.si Katarina Klemenc Dinjaški, Corporate Communications, Lek