Welcome to the series of the "Everything Heart" podcast, where Professor Wilkinson discusses contemporary topics and challenges related to the heart that clinicians encounter on an everyday basis with their patients.

SPEAKER DETAILS

Prof. Ian Boden Wilkinson

Professor Ian Boden Wilkinson is a Professor of Therapeutics at the University of Cambridge, Director of the Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, and Director of the Office of Translational Research. He is also an Honorary Consultant Physician at Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge, and a Non-Executive Director of the Royal Papworth NHS Foundation Trust.
Professor Wilkinson has a distinguished career in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, where he has led over 60 clinical trials and published over 200 papers, several book chapters, and books over the years. His research interests centre on vascular physiology and pharmacology, which aim to understand the pathological processes underlying hypertension and arteriosclerosis which translates into new therapies. He currently leads the MRC-funded AIMHY trials, which aim to determine the best antihypertensive drug regimes for different ethnic groups in the UK.
Professor Wilkinson is also devoted to the training and development of young minds in the field of science. He has successful mentorships and supervision of students and has helped develop and implement new training programs and examinations for clinical pharmacology and sub-specialty accreditation in hypertension.

Episode 1: Recent Updates on Hypertension

Professor Wilkinson takes a deeper look into hypertension through its different definitions, global trends, diagnostic algorithms, treatment thresholds, and targets according to various evolving international guidelines.

TALKING POINTS:

• Definitions and new treatment thresholds by different international guidelines
• Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control
• Cut-offs for initiating hypertension therapy
• First-line therapy: Monotherapy or combination; what do the guidelines recommend?

Episode 2: Tackling Challenges in Hypertension Management

In this podcast, Professor Wilkinson discusses various challenges and techniques to manage hypertensive patients, including disease awareness, patient adherence, blood pressure (BP) monitoring, and control in patients with or without comorbidities.

TALKING POINTS:

• The need to raise awareness about hypertension for early diagnosis
• The challenges in BP monitoring and different approaches
• 'LIPITENSION': The coexistence of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia
• Hypertension as a risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) and renal diseases
• Patient-focused challenges: How to improve the adherence to medication

Episode 3: Blood Pressure Variability, 24-hour Control and Morning Surge

What is blood pressure variability (BPV) and what are its therapeutic implications? Find out more in this podcast, where we focus on 24-hour control and on the prognostic relevance of morning blood pressure surge (MBPS).

TALKING POINTS:

• Blood pressure variability (BPV)
• Complications associated with BPV and smoothness index
• Role of amlodipine in reducing BPV
• Morning blood pressure surge (MBPS): Prognostic relevance and perspectives
• Addition of statins to antihypertensive therapy

Episode 4: Monotherapy in Hypertension Management: Role of CCB

In this podcast, Professor Wilkinson discusses the mechanism of action of calcium channel blockers (CCBS) and their role in managing hypertension in special populations, such as paediatrics, geriatrics, pregnant women, and people with preoperative hypertension.

TALKING POINTS:

• Role of calcium channel blockers in managing hypertension in special populations
• Overview of different classes of antihypertensive drugs, with a focus on calcium channel blockers
• Challenges and considerations in managing hypertension during pregnancy

Episode 5: Addition of Statins to Antihypertensives to Prevent CV Events

Professor Wilkinson explores the health challenges posed by the coexistence of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia, as well as how adding statins to antihypertensive medications can help to prevent the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in these patients.

TALKING POINTS:

• The interaction between hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia
• The evidence supporting combination therapy: HOPE-3 and ASCOT-LLA trials
• Strategies to improve patient adherence
• The synergistic effects of combined treatment

Episode 6: ANGINA: New Concept and Management

Professor Wilkinson focuses on angina and its management. He also delves into the various guidelines for treating angina and preventing cardiovascular (CV) events.

TALKING POINTS:

• Drugs for chronic stable angina: NICE guidelines
• Treatment choice: conservative vs invasive approaches
• New concept by ESC 2019: Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS)

MY-NON-2025-00190-14MAY2025