Aim This review aims to summarize and discuss some of the most relevant clinical trials in epidemiology, diagnostics, and treatment of hypertension published in 2020 and 2021. Data synthesis The trials included in this review are related to hypertension onset age and risk for future cardiovascular disease, reliability of different blood pressure monitoring methods, role of exercise-induced hypertension, treatment of hypertension in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and management of hypertension high-risk patient groups, e.g., in the elderly (≥80 years) and patients with atrial fibrillation, the interplay between nutrition and hypertension, as well as recent insights into renal denervation for treatment of hypertension. Conclusions Hypertension onset age, nighttime blood pressure levels and a riser pattern are relevant for the prognosis of future cardiovascular diseases. The risk of coronary heart disease appears to increase linearly with increasing exercise systolic blood pressure. Renin-angiotensin system blockers are not associated with an increased risk for a severe course of COVID-19. In elderly patients, a risk-benefit assessment of intensified blood pressure control should be individually evaluated. A J-shaped association between cardiovascular disease and achieved blood pressure could also be demonstrated in patients with atrial fibrillation on anticoagulation. Salt restriction and lifestyle modification remain effective options in treating hypertensive patients at low cardiovascular risk. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists show BP-lowering effects. Renal denervation should be considered as an additional or alternative treatment option in selected patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the leading cause of in-hospital death and the third most frequent cause of cardiovascular death. The clinical presentation of PE is variable, and choosing the appropriate treatment for individual patients can be challenging. Traditionally, treatment of PE has involved a choice of anticoagulation, thrombolysis or surgery; however, a range of percutaneous interventional technologies have been developed that are under investigation in patients with intermediate–high-risk or high-risk PE. These interventional technologies include catheter-directed thrombolysis (with or without ultrasound assistance), aspiration thrombectomy and combinations of the aforementioned principles. These interventional treatment options might lead to a more rapid improvement in right ventricular function and pulmonary and/or systemic haemodynamics in particular patients. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials on the safety and efficacy of these interventions compared with conservative therapies is lacking. In this Review, we discuss the underlying pathophysiology of PE, provide assistance with decision-making on patient selection and critically appraise the available clinical evidence on interventional, catheter-based approaches for PE treatment. Finally, we discuss future perspectives and unmet needs.

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Introduction:Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) has been suggested to induce photosensitivity, thereby increasing the incidence of skin cancers. After a pharmacovigilance alert, HCT was frequently withdrawn or substituted by other diuretics. The aim of this study was to compare the association of exposure to HCT with cancer risk versus alternative diuretics.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on data from the AOK PLUS, a large German statutory health insurance fund. Patients with HCT treatment were propensity score matching to patients using non-HCT diuretics. Incidence of cancer of any kind and, specifically, skin cancer was assessed in both groups. Time-to-incident cancer diagnosis was evaluated and compared between the groups.Results:A total of 199 708 patients were included in the final analysis (n = 76 855 in the HCT group; n = 122 853 in the non-HCT-diuretics group). After propensity score matching, 122 554 patients remained in the sample (n = 61 277 for both groups, of which >96% had hypertension, mean age 73 years, 61% female). HCT treatment was associated with a lower incidence of cancer of any kind compared with non-HCT diuretics (incidence rate ratio per 100 patient years 0.84 95% confidence interval: 0.82–0.87). HCT treatment was associated with a small albeit significantly higher incidence rate ratio of skin cancer (1.15 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.24) with significant variances over time. Although numerically higher, the difference accounts to only 0.05 more skin cancer diagnoses in 100 patient-years.Conclusion:HCT treatment compared with alternative diuretics was associated with a lower all-cancer risk and a numerically small increased skin cancer risk in a large German population. Risk–benefit evaluation should be executed in patients with increased skin cancer risk and treatment with HCT. Furthermore, advice for skin protection is warranted in all patients taking thiazide or thiazide-like diuretics.