Dear Colleagues and Community Members,
I’m pleased to share our latest newsletter, which is now available to both members and non-members as part of our commitment to advancing hypertension prevention and awareness in Australia.
In this edition:
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, discovery science researcher, or simply interested in understanding and preventing hypertension, we invite you to explore these resources and join our upcoming events.
View the complete newsletter below for detailed information about our member spotlights, research updates, and registration links for upcoming events.
If you would like to have this newsletter delivered to your inbox, please subscribe here.
With best wishes
Alta Schutte
Chair, Communications Committee
Hypertension Australia
This year’s ASM is packed with exciting sessions on cutting-edge topics like advancing preventive measures, early detection, and effective control strategies for hypertension.
Get ready to hear from experts including:
The EMCR Committee welcomes Early Career Researchers (ECR) to the ECR Symposium. This will be held prior to the opening of the ASM and is a great opportunity for ECRs to network with peers from around the country. This year the symposium will feature a panel of researchers discussing the topic of ‘finding your niche’ following by morning tea and networking.
Event details
A link to register for the ECR symposium will be sent after ASM registration.
We are excited to announce the upcoming ECR Lunchtime Seminar Series on 1 November 2024, from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM AEDT.
Join us for an insightful seminar by Prof. Louise Purton on ‘Increasing Accessibility of Your Research’.
Prof. Purton is a leader in haematology and stem cell research and a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusivity in STEMM. Her accolades include the prestigious 2022 ISEH McCulloch and Till Award and the 2023 ISEH Award for Leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity.
Don’t miss this opportunity! Register now for this FREE event and participate in an engaging session!
The 2024 National Hypertension Summit will be an opportunity to hear from the National Hypertension Taskforce about the Roadmap to achieving its important goal of reaching 70% blood pressure control in Australia by 2030.
There will also be presentations regarding ongoing activities and opportunities to participate in discussions.
Event details
Date: 26th November 2024
Time: 10am – 5:30pm AEDT (networking event 5:30pm – 7pm AEDT)
Venue: PARKROYAL, Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW
Cost to attend: Free
Join us for Pressure Wise, a free community educational event on high blood pressure, its complications, and effective management strategies. Hypertension Australia, the Heart Foundation and a consumer advisor are presenting at this event.
Event details
Date: Saturday 30 November 2024
Time: 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM AEDT
Venue: The University of Sydney or online from anywhere
Help us spread the word—share this event with your colleagues, friends, and family!
Professor Alta Schutte, a leader in hypertension research, has been a member of Hypertension Australia since 2009. As the SHARP Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at UNSW Sydney and affiliated with The George Institute for Global Health, she focuses on improving global blood pressure control through clinical trials and implementation science. Her research addresses blood pressure monitoring, treatment options, medication adherence, and awareness initiatives. A passionate Springboks supporter, Alta enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring new cultures with her family. Read more
Connie Ow is a Research Officer at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, focusing on cardiovascular research related to hypertension. Inspired by her grandmother’s health challenges, she explores acute kidney injury and its connection to heart conditions. Connie’s innovative work on sodium ascorbate therapy aims to improve outcomes for sepsis patients. Her research reflects a strong commitment to enhancing hypertension management and advancing clinical care for vulnerable populations. Read more
Taku Furukawa is a PhD candidate at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, focusing on heart surgery complications related to hypertension. He investigates organ injury during cardiopulmonary bypass. Taku’s background as an anaesthesiologist and intensive care physician informs his research, which aims to improve health outcomes for critically ill patients by uncovering mechanisms of brain and kidney injury and developing innovative therapeutic interventions. Read more
A new meta-analysis reveals concerning statistics about hypertension management in Australia. About 31% of Australian adults have hypertension, but only half are aware of their condition or receiving treatment. With just 34% achieving adequate blood pressure control, Australia lags significantly behind other high-income nations like Germany (58%) and Canada (50%). Gender disparities show men have higher prevalence rates, while women are more likely to seek treatment. The study highlights an urgent need for improved detection and treatment strategies, including establishing a national blood pressure registry.
In an international first, scientists have identified genetic risk scores specific to biological pathways for sodium and potassium absorption, transport and excretion in ~300,0000 individuals from the UK Biobank, that could identify individuals for whom blood pressure is affected differently by sodium and potassium. Published in Circulation, the paper identified that individuals at the highest genetic risk within sodium transport biology had approximately 40% higher blood pressure than those at the lowest risk. In practice, dietary management of blood pressure is commonly managed by altering sodium and potassium intakes. This research therefore may prove useful in clinical practice to identify individuals who may respond differently to sodium and potassium altering interventions.
The European Society of Cardiology’s 2024 hypertension guidelines have endorsed potassium-enriched salt as an important intervention against high blood pressure, which affects over a billion adults globally. This recommendation aligns with evidence from The George Institute for Global Health showing that switching to potassium-enriched salt could prevent millions of deaths worldwide. While changing eating habits and food systems is challenging, this simple substitution offers a scalable solution to reduce hypertension’s massive health burden. Read more
A new Australian study reveals that nurse-led hypertension management in general practice is both feasible and well-received by patients. The research found that practice nurses are ideally positioned to support blood pressure control through regular monitoring, lifestyle education, and risk communication. Patients valued the structured approach and dedicated time with nurses, while doctors appreciated the collaborative care model. However, researchers note that sustainable implementation requires addressing funding mechanisms and team-based care support in general practice.
Anastasia Mihailidou interviews Tazeen Hasan Jafar about research she’s been doing on deploying community health aids to improve global blood pressure control equity in underserved communities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
This edition features contributions from WHL 2024 Excellence Award winners, reports on World Hypertension Day, and a spotlight from the Journal of Human Hypertension on rhythmic components in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Dr Parati discusses blood pressure measurement at high altitudes, while the global Scientific Writers Program highlights ‘Sensitivity and Specificity in Hypertension Diagnosis’, along with updates from their partners.
In this episode of the Heart Foundations Stories from the Heart, we hear from Nathan Krepp, a self-proclaimed workaholic from Western Australia. Struggling with high blood pressure and a poor diet, Nathan had already lost 5% of his heart function due to minor heart attacks. However, in 2020, a more dramatic event pushed him to confront his mortality. The episode also features Dr. Niamh Chapman, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sydney, discussing her groundbreaking research aimed at measuring blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors in pathology waiting rooms.
The complex causes of high blood pressure (hypertension) can include lifestyle factors like diet and physical activity, genetic factors, and other medical conditions. Knowing your blood pressure numbers through regular monitoring is a crucial first step in prevention and management. Healthcare professionals can find detailed guidance and patients can learn about blood pressure management strategies via the links below.
