2015 Oman Heart Association Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension (HTN) is a major independent risk factor for the development of stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). HTN is a growing public health problem in Oman, almost certainly the most prevalent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The risk of CVD in patients with HTN can be greatly reduced with lifestyle modifications and effective antihypertensive therapy. Randomized trials have shown that blood pressure (BP) lowering produces rapid reductions in CV risk. Several studies have shown that the majority of the hypertensive patients remain uncontrolled. It is well established that the observed poor control of the disease is not only related to poor adherence to medications, but also to limited awareness and adherence to evidence-based management of hypertension among physicians. Several guidelines for the management of patients with hypertension have been published. However, the aim of this document is to provide the busy physicians in Oman with more concise and direct approach towards implementing these guidelines into clinical practice.

Prevalence of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in Oman: STEPS Survey 2017

“…In 2015, the Oman Heart Association (OHA) released the internationally recommended guidelines in management of hypertension to be followed. (24). In addition, the national screening program for 40 years and above may have also had an influence to help to reduce the prevalence of increased Blood pressure.…”

Commonalities among Dietary Recommendations from 2010 to 2021 Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Meta-Epidemiological Study from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine

“…Of the 8 criteria reviewed, 76% of the CPGs provided details on ≥6 criteria, whereas 8% of the CPGs provided details on 2 or fewer criteria. Only 2 CPGs included no description of the guideline development process [ 33 , 34 ]. The CPGs commonly lacked a clear statement that views of the funding body had not influenced the guideline content (77% not reporting), where 40% of the CPGs provided no statement at all about funding or support.…”

“…However, for some of these same food groups, between 1% and 5% ( n = 1–4) of the included CPGs discouraged intake. In particular, 3 guidelines for populations with CVD and 1 guideline for overweight/obesity recommended low-to-moderate intake of dairy, fish, and poultry [ 33 , 43 ] (one of these stipulated fish intake ≥2 times/wk [ 33 ]) or specified ≤2 servings/d [ 44 ] or <6 oz/d [ 45 ] of meat, poultry, and fish. Two guidelines for Japanese populations with diabetes (type 1 and/or type 2) recommended fruit intake be limited to ≤1 unit of fructose (fruit) [ 38 ] or 1 unit (80 kcal)/d, given that fruits currently on markets often contain a large amount of sugar because of selective breeding [ 46 ].…”

Potassium-Enriched Salt Substitutes: A Review of Recommendations in Clinical Management Guidelines

“…All included specific reference to sodium reduction, with most recommending to reduce salt intake to a level between 4 and 6 g/day for the primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (Table 1). 44,46–50,52–55,57–59,62,63,65,66,68–72,74,75 Many made specific recommendations on dietary potassium intake, 9,45,46,48,51–60,62–67,70 and 4—the Chinese, European, Taiwanese, and British—made specific mention of potassium-enriched salt (Table 2). 46,52,60,63 Of those, 2 made a specific recommendation for the use thereof, 46,63 one simply mentioned the recently completed SSaSS trial (Salt Substitute and Stroke Study), 52 and one included only a warning that potassium-enriched salt should not be used in those in whom it may be contraindicated.…”