Dear Colleagues and Friends
May is upon us and with it comes May Measurement Month, the recently passed World Hypertension Day on the 17th and another Hypertension Australia newsletter. This issue we have collated some hot off the presses scientific works looking at hypertension and other body systems. We also have some important articles on the role and impact of community screening which are very timely.
We feature our ECR for this issue, Dr Evany Dinakis, and the Cardiometabolic Health and Exercise Physiology laboratory at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Likewise, we have the opportunity to congratulate Dr Niamh Chapman and Professor Anthony Rodgers on their recent 2025 NSW Ministerial Awards for Cardiovascular Research.
Wishing you all the best for the rest of May!
Best wishes,
Gianni Sesa-Ashton
Chair, Communications Committee
Hypertension Australia
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This study investigated gastrointestinal pH and transit time in people with normal and elevated blood pressure using the SmartPill™ Motility Testing System. Researchers found that participants with hypertension had a higher minimum colonic pH, independent of medication use, diet, transit time or circulating short-chain fatty acid levels, suggesting that gut pH may play a role in blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular disease risk.
This mixed methods study examined the uptake and financial impact of Australia’s 60-day dispensing policy for antihypertensive medicines, finding that by April 2025, 21.2% of prescriptions were dispensed as 60-day supplies, saving patients an estimated $65 million. Researchers also found that while the policy improved convenience and reduced costs for patients, uptake was slowed by barriers including low GP adoption, pharmacist resistance and concerns about medicine shortages and dispensing errors.
This article argues that community-based blood pressure screening can complement existing health-care services by improving hypertension detection, particularly among populations with limited access to care. The authors highlight that low-cost, opportunistic screening programs using validated devices and standardised protocols can increase awareness and early identification of raised blood pressure, while emphasising the importance of linking individuals to primary care for diagnosis and long-term management.
This article highlights growing evidence that adrenal hormone disorders, particularly primary aldosteronism, may underlie a substantial proportion of resistant hypertension cases. The report emphasises that these conditions are often underdiagnosed despite being potentially treatable or curable through targeted medications or adrenal surgery, supporting broader screening for secondary causes of hypertension.
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the effects of multimodal lifestyle interventions on blood pressure, body weight and waist circumference in people with hypertension. The study found that combining interventions such as diet, exercise and behavioural support produced greater improvements in blood pressure and cardiometabolic outcomes than single-component approaches, highlighting the value of comprehensive lifestyle management for hypertension.
This review examines how colonic pH, shaped by gut microbiota activity and dietary fibre fermentation, may influence blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular health. The authors highlight emerging evidence linking a higher colonic pH with hypertension and discuss how proton-sensing receptors such as GPR4, GPR65 and GPR68 may mediate immune and vascular pathways involved in blood pressure control.
This study found that higher 24-hour blood pressure variability was associated with poorer cognition, reduced executive function and impaired blood-brain barrier integrity in older adults without dementia. The findings also suggested that people carrying the APOE ε4 gene variant may be more vulnerable to the effects of blood pressure variability on brain ageing and white matter damage.
The May Measurement Month 2023 campaign in Australia identified a high proportion of participants with untreated or inadequately controlled hypertension through opportunistic community blood pressure screening. The study found that while many participants were aware of their hypertension or receiving treatment, blood pressure control rates remained low, reinforcing the importance of ongoing screening and improved hypertension management strategies.
Evany Dinakis is a postdoctoral researcher at Monash University and the Victorian Heart Institute whose research explores how diet, the gut microbiome, immune regulation and pH-sensing pathways influence blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Following completion of her PhD in the Hypertension Research Laboratory led by Professor Francine Marques, her award-winning work has provided new insights into the gut–immune mechanisms underpinning hypertension, including the first in-human evidence linking distinct colonic pH profiles with essential hypertension, helping to broaden future approaches to prevention, monitoring and treatment.
Dr Lakshini Herat is an early-career researcher at the University of Western Australia whose work focuses on understanding the role of the sympathetic nervous system in hypertension and cardiometabolic disease. Inspired by both personal experience and a passion for translational research, Lakshini is helping advance new approaches to preventing heart and kidney damage in people living with high blood pressure.
The Cardiometabolic Health and Exercise Physiology team at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute is advancing research into the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic disease through exercise interventions, integrative physiology techniques, and novel therapeutics. Their current work explores the neural and autonomic drivers of blood pressure control in conditions including hypertension, Long COVID and ME/CFS, while also investigating how exercise can protect cardiovascular health across the lifespan.
Congratulations to Hypertension Australia members Dr Niamh Chapman and Professor Anthony Rodgers on receiving prestigious 2025 NSW Ministerial Awards for Cardiovascular Research. Dr Chapman was recognised as a Rising Star in Cardiovascular Research for her contributions to hypertension education and service delivery innovation, while Prof Rodgers received the Award for Cardiovascular Research Excellence for his decades-long leadership in global cardiovascular disease prevention research.
This is a final reminder that Hypertension Australia membership renewals are now due. Renew now to continue accessing exclusive member benefits, including:
Check your emails for instructions on how to complete your renewal. Any questions, contact membership@hypertension.org.au.
The National Hypertension Taskforce welcomed PBS reforms allowing dual single pill combinations to be prescribed as a first line treatment for hypertension, aligning Australia with international best practice. These changes are expected to simplify treatment, improve adherence and support better blood pressure control outcomes, contributing to the Taskforce’s goal of increasing national control rates to 70 per cent by 2030.
A keynote address from Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd AO, highlighted the scale of hypertension in Australia and the urgent need to improve prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. He commended the National Hypertension Taskforce for its collaborative work and reaffirmed the national goal to lift blood pressure control rates.
The Summit showcased initiatives by Taskforce members that are advancing hypertension prevention, detection, and management and closed with a session on team-based care that emphasised the contributions of GPs, pharmacists, nurses, and consumers in strengthening multidisciplinary hypertension management.
This study assessed the quality of routine inpatient blood pressure measurement in an Australian teaching hospital and found substantial variation from recommended best-practice techniques. None of the observed measurements met all 10 consensus criteria for accurate blood pressure assessment, highlighting the need for standardised hospital guidelines and improved staff training to reduce inaccurate readings.
The Blood Pressure Toolkit provides health professionals with practical, evidence-based resources to support accurate blood pressure measurement, hypertension detection and ongoing patient management. Designed for use across clinical settings, the toolkit includes education modules, implementation resources and best-practice guidance to help improve blood pressure assessment and cardiovascular outcomes.
Hypertension Australia’s infographics provide health professionals and patients with easy-to-understand, evidence-based resources covering key topics in blood pressure prevention, monitoring and management. Available as downloadable one-page resources, the infographics explore areas including ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, chronic kidney disease, physical activity, healthy eating and understanding blood pressure numbers, making them a practical tool for patient education and clinical conversations.
May Measurement Month, a global screening campaign to improve the detection and awareness of high blood pressure, has kicked off for 2026. Screening has taken place all over Australia in hospitals and research institutes as well as out in the community.
Hypertension Australia members Rikesh and Gianni have run a successful screening campaign out of the Prahran Market in Melbourne, successfully screening patients and promoting the awareness of elevated blood pressure. While an opportunity to look for hypertension among those in our communities, screenings also offer a chance to provide general blood pressure lowering advice and encourage people to get checked.
It is not too late to run a screening in your workplace or a public space! Those interested can find out more at https://www.maymeasure.org/get-involved.
A recent Channel 9 news segment shared during Heart Week has drawn attention to alarming new data from the Heart Foundation revealing that around three in four Australians have a “Heart Age” older than their actual age, often without realising they may be at increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
The campaign highlights how common risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and family history can silently impact heart health over time, and is encouraging Australians aged 45 and over to take the free Heart Age check and book a Heart Health Check with their GP to better understand and manage their cardiovascular risk.
Research presented by Medscape has highlighted yoga as a simple, low-impact activity that may help support healthy blood pressure in adults who are overweight or obese. Alongside improving flexibility and fitness, yoga was also linked with several heart health benefits, including:
Researchers say the combination of movement, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques may help reduce strain on the cardiovascular system and support long-term heart health.
The latest article from No Money No Time shares practical diet hacks that can help support healthy blood pressure and heart health, including:
The article also highlights that small, realistic changes can make a meaningful difference over time, especially when combined with regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits. Regular checks and following your treatment plan are key to keeping your blood pressure under control.
Join us for the Hypertension Australia 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) taking place at the Rendezvous Hotel in Melbourne from Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 December 2026.
The ASM will unite esteemed Australian and international experts and stakeholders who are at the forefront of advancing preventive measures, early detection, and effective control strategies for hypertension and its associated complications. This gathering will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering the exchange of cutting-edge knowledge and innovative approaches to combat this pressing health concern. We will also reflect on and discuss the new 2026 Australian Hypertension guidelines and how these can best be implemented.
The ASM provides a unique opportunity for members and students to present their latest research findings, with dedicated sessions and prestigious awards recognising outstanding contributions from students, young investigators, mid-career scientists, and senior researchers.
Register by Monday 28 September to take advantage of discounted rates!
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