Conversations and healthy debate about issues facing our industry and the health care system are critical to addressing some of today’s challenges and opportunities. The Catalyst welcomes guest contributors, including patients, stakeholders, innovators and others, to share their perspectives and point of view. Views represented here may not be those of PhRMA, though they are no less key to a healthy dialogue on issues in health care today.
We are pleased to share a blog post from Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand, former board chair of the Association of Black Cardiologists.
Healthy Heart Month is a wonderful opportunity to refocus on the importance of controlling high blood pressure in all populations, especially African Americans. A new high blood pressure guideline from ACC/AHA and supported by the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) and other professional organizations, is critical to this effort.
Observational studies for adults confirm, especially in older persons, a linear, consistent and direct powerful increase in heart disease and stroke deaths with higher blood pressures. These risks increase well before the prior cut-point of 140/90 mmHg and hence hypertension is now defined as 130/80 mmHg or greater.
As part of the updated guideline, the newly defined categories of elevated blood pressure in adults will markedly increase the number of African Americans (non-Hispanic Blacks) diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, to as much as 59 percent of men and 56 percent of women in this population.
It is important to broaden awareness of this powerful and consistent risk factor for heart attack, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Recent research, along with this updated guideline, confirms the wisdom of intensive blood pressure reduction over a wide range of population, including African Americans and people ages 65 years and older, to decrease cardiovascular events or death.
There is a real, persistent, and death gap between whites and blacks in the United States, driven primarily by poorly controlled risk factors, specifically in blacks, more prevalent and more severe hypertension. Until all populations achieve equity in terms of cardiovascular disease mortality (death rates), no one can be considered truly healthy.
Importantly, The 2018 Medicines in Development Report on Heart Disease and Stroke found that there are 200 medicines are being investigated for heart disease and stroke. Even with non-pharmacological interventions such as the DASH diet, weight control and physical activity, most patients with hypertension, especially black adults, will need two or more hypertensive medicines to achieve BP target of less than 130/80 mmHg. Along with the addressing, the social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, social support, access to care, and residential environment, intensive blood pressure control with lifestyle interventions and medications are essential.
TargetBP, an ABC partner, has a wealth of information and tools to better understand how to control BP and webcast with a leading ABC member.
Keith C. Ferdinand, MD FACC, FAHA is a professor with Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane Heart and Vascular Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana and a former board chair of the Association of Black Cardiologists.
Guest Contributor
The PhRMA blog welcomes guest contributors, including patients, stakeholders, innovators and others, to share their perspectives and point of view on issues facing our industry and the health care system.
Guest Contributor
The Patient Perspective: Vaccines
New Report: Tackling chronic conditions with preventive treatment
New Report: Vaccines continue to drive improved health outcomes
Mental Health Awareness Month: Supporting loved ones and improving mental health in America
New Report: 1,600 cancer treatments and vaccines in clinical development
Mental Health Awareness Month: Fighting the growing mental health crisis and supporting innovation
Support for continued progress is critical for pediatric drug development
New Report: More than 400 medicines in development for leading chronic conditions affecting older Americans
State policymakers can protect American innovation and help Americans live longer, healthier lives
Recognizing National Glaucoma Awareness Month
New Report More than 160 medicines in development for mental illness
ICYMI: Cancer death rate continues to decline due to treatment advances
Stories from the lab: Researchers discuss innovative treatments for cancers of the blood
New Report: Nearly 800 medicines in development to treat chronic conditions
Recognizing National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Potential gene therapies bring hope to patients with sickle cell disease
Gene therapies can reduce treatment burden and costs for patients with blood disorders
Report: More than 500 medicines in development to treat disorders of the blood
Report: More than 600 medicines in development for diseases affecting women
New Report: Nearly 800 new medicines in development to treat rare diseases
Guest post: Continued research and development is critical for ALS patients and families
New report shows more than 260 medicines in development to fight neurodegenerative diseases
More than 800 medicines are in development for diseases that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic communities
New PhRMA report shows nearly 90 medicines in development to fight drug-resistant infections
Report: More than 1,300 medicines and vaccines in development to help fight cancer
New report shows nearly 260 vaccines in development, including dozens for COVID-19
Nearly 400 cell and gene therapies in development to target a broad range of diseases
Nearly 140 medicines in development to treat mental illness
New report shows more than 160 medicines in development for diabetes and related conditions
New report shows nearly 20 innovative medicines in development for sickle cell disease
130 medicines in development for asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases
130 medicines in development for asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases
New report shows nearly 300 cell and gene therapies in development
World AIDS Day 2018: Hope for the future
New report shows more than 300 skin disease medicines in development
New report details the setbacks and challenges to Alzheimer’s research
New report and resources put cancer in context, showing more than 1,100 medicines and vaccines in development
A new era in Alzheimer’s innovation
New report shows over 500 medicines in development for neurological disorders
New report shows 200 medicines in development for heart disease and stroke
World AIDS Day 2017: Scientific breakthroughs paving the way for an AIDS-free generation
2017 Research & Hope Awards honor innovators in mental health
Medicare Monday: Strengthening access to vaccines for seniors
Finding cures for incurable diseases
New report portrays flourishing pipeline
More than 50 medicines and vaccines in development for HIV infection, treatment and prevention
Medicare Monday: New report highlights progress in fighting cancer with new physician-administered medicines
More than 240 immuno-oncology treatments in development to fight cancer
Significant progress fighting cancer: Death rate has dropped 25 percent
3 things to know about 2016 drug approvals
Guest post: Advancing healthy hearts for patients
Medicines in Development
Guest post: Advancing healthy hearts for patients
Guest post: Advancing healthy hearts for patients