Dear Colleagues and Community Members,
Delighted to share with you the latest newsletter of Hypertension Australia. With May being the BIGGEST month in hypertension, we have yet another bumper issue, focusing on particularly raising awareness on World Hypertension Day (held on 17 May) and the May Measurement Month blood pressure awareness campaign. We also share highlights on important research findings that may be of interest to you – including interesting topics such as new drugs, sleep, microbiota and microplastics!
Feel free to share our newsletter to colleagues far and wide.
Alta Schutte
Chair, Communications Committee
Hypertension Australia
If you would like to have this newsletter delivered to your inbox, please subscribe here.
May Measurement Month (MMM) is back for 2025, and Australia is already making a strong impact.
With over 45 active screening sites across the country, momentum is building to raise awareness about the importance of routine blood pressure checks and the early detection of hypertension.
Running from 1 May to 31 July, MMM25 provides a dedicated three month window to engage communities, support preventative health, and contribute valuable data to this global screening initiative.
So far, more than 780 Australians have already been screened, with many more expected as the campaign continues. This year’s focus is on the early detection of undiagnosed hypertension, promoting lifestyle awareness, and empowering individuals to take control of their cardiovascular health. Thanks to the support of hospitals, clinics, universities, and community organisations, MMM25 is reaching people in metropolitan, regional, and remote areas, including communities where health equity is a key priority.
It’s not too late to get involved!
We’re still welcoming new screening sites. Whether you’re a health service, pharmacy, workplace, or community group, you can help make a difference.
BP devices can be provided, and you’ll have access to a range of online training and promotional tools to support your event: https://www.maymeasure.org/resources
To get started, contact Derrin Brockman at derrin.brockman@uwa.edu.au
Let’s work together to detect, connect, and protect Australians from high blood pressure, one screening at a time!
A global study involving over two million people found that addressing five major cardiovascular risk factors by age 50 can significantly extend life expectancy. Women maintaining optimal levels may gain up to 14.5 years, while men could gain up to 11.8 years.
Lorundrostat, an investigational aldosterone synthase inhibitor, significantly lowered blood pressure in individuals with obesity and treatment-resistant hypertension, offering a potential new treatment avenue.
A review in current Hypertension Reports highlights the higher risk of preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders among Indigenous women, recommending culturally tailored interventions to improve outcomes.
Adolescents sleeping less than 7.7 hours per night face significantly higher risks of elevated blood pressure, with those experiencing both insomnia and short sleep showing a fivefold increased risk of hypertension.
A study in The Journal of Nutrition found specific microbial taxa and metabolites, such as [Eubacterium] xylanophilum and deoxycholic acid, were associated with blood pressure and triglyceride levels, independent of diet adherence, offering insights beyond traditional dietary assessments.
Research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2025 meeting suggests that environmental microplastics may contribute to higher rates of chronic diseases. Regions with greater microplastic concentrations showed significantly higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.
A study published in Hypertension Research shows that lowering blood pressure to below 130/80 mmHg can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in people with diabetes, without increasing major risks.
A review in JAMA Cardiology explores the potential of cuffless blood pressure devices for continuous, non-invasive monitoring, while noting challenges regarding accuracy and calibration for certain patient groups.
Hypertension Australia ECRs and members, Hericka Bruna Figueiredo Galvao, Grant Drummond, Christopher Sobey and Antony Vinh, recently published insights into sex specific characterisations of metabolic syndrome. We know that perivascular adipose tissue dysfunction is associated with inflammation and vascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome, and this study found that males could be more susceptible to this. This study also characterises a novel mouse model of metabolic syndrome that can be used to understand features of metabolic syndrome, including hypertension.
For World Hypertension Day which was on 17 May, the World Hypertension League has assembled resources and online training to support accurate blood pressure measurement and effective hypertension control.
The Menzies Institute for Medical Research offers a guide to verify whether your blood pressure monitor has been properly validated – crucial since fewer than 15% of the 3,000+ monitors on the market have been properly tested.
Watch this space – Hypertension Australia and the National Hypertension Taskforce are set to release an important new position statement on Automated Office Blood Pressure (AOBP) measurement, with Professor James Sharman leading the initiative.
AOBP is the use of validated electronic devices with automated upper arm cuffs that are programmed to take multiple blood pressure readings at predetermined intervals, beginning after an initial rest period.
Why does this matter? The Taskforce’s Roadmap identified an urgent need for simple, practical blood pressure measurement protocols that can be implemented consistently across all settings. This new position statement directly addresses this priority, providing much-needed guidance for standardised BP measurement practices.
Stay tuned for the full release of this important clinical guidance.
Rikeish Muralitheran is a research fellow in the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University and has been a member of Hypertension Australia since 2019. Rikesh’s research focuses on uncovering novel approaches to prevent, detect, and manage high blood pressure, particularly through the gut microbiome.
Garry Jennings is a senior academic and Chief Medical Advisor at the Heart Foundation, with honorary roles at Sydney and Monash Universities and long-standing affiliations in cardiovascular health. He has been a member of Hypertension Australia since its inception in 1979.
This spotlight features the Cardiovascular Research Flagship at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, led by Professor Seana Gall. With a focus on community engagement and collaboration, the team is driving innovative approaches to prevent, detect and manage high blood pressure across Tasmania, through projects that integrate research, policy and lived experience.
The RACP Foundation annually offers up to $2.5M in funding for research and other awards acknowledging the achievements of its members.
Please click the link below for more details on the below opportunities which may be of interest to you;
Join us in Adelaide for the 2025 ASCEPT and Hypertension Australia Joint Scientific Meeting, where experts in pharmacology, clinical and experimental pharmacology, and hypertension research will come together to share the latest advances and foster collaboration. Held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, this premier event offers dynamic presentations, networking opportunities, and a vibrant setting on the Riverbank.
Registrations and abstract submissions open Monday 16 June.
Save the date for Friday 1 August 2025 to join us at the revamped Winter School! This year we will have updates from the leaders of Hypertension Australia, initiatives that you can get involved in, research talks, and a workshop on how to write an exciting and engaging first page for your grant. We have invited past NHMRC reviewers, established researchers and research office staff to provide individualised feedback on your first page drafts. Stay tuned for more information and a call for your first page!