Background. Despite the existence of a clear cause-and-effect relationship between job strain and hypertension, there are still no clear criteria for defining stress-induced arterial hypertension (SIAH).

   Objective. Search for SIAH criteria, in particular predictors of hypertension in the workplace.

   Materials and methods. The study included volunteers experiencing stress in the workplace and not having hypertension. Before the start of the working day and at the end of the working day, the subject was surveyed, given questionnaires (Ch. D. Spielberg scale, Montgomery-Asberg MADRS scale, A. M. Vein scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale HADS), blood pressure and resting heart rate were measured, fasting blood was taken to determine the values of ACTH, TSH, T4, insulin, cortisol. All patients underwent ABPM on a working day and a day off.

   Results. According to ABPM (n=52), no signs of masked hypertension were detected, however, significant differences between workdays and weekends in the levels of maximum SBP and DBP during the daytime were noteworthy. In the group with maximum SBP>140 mm Hg during the daytime (SIAH, n = 34), on a workday there was an increase in the time index for SBP>30% (24 hours and day), characteristic of hypertension, and for DBP (24 hours and day), characteristic of borderline (possible) hypertension, the average DBP values during the day and at night were at the upper limit of the norm, which was significantly different from the Normotonic group (n = 19). On a weekday, the SIAH group also had significantly increased SBP (24 hours, day) and DBP (24 hours, day and night) indexes versus Normotonic. For all other indicators except ABPM, the groups were comparable.

   Conclusions. Taking into account the increase in the time index for SBP and DBP, it can be assumed that, against the background of stressful situations at the workplace, the subjects had short frequent increases in blood pressure, which have not yet led to a significant violation of self-regulation of blood pressure and the development of hypertension. An increase in the maximum values of systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure against the background of an increased time index on a working day are possible predictors of SIAH, in particular hypertension at the workplace.

   Objective. To evaluate the dynamics of central aortic pressure and the cardioprotective effect of antihypertensive chronopharmacotherapy in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and ischemic stroke.

   Materials and methods. The study included 119 patients with AH who has suffered an ischemic stroke; patients were randomized in 2 groups depending on the chronopharmacotherapy option: group 1 (n = 60) – patients who received indapamide retard 1.5 mg and valsartan 160 mg in the morning; group 2 (n = 59) – indapamide retard 1.5 mg in the morning and valsartan 80 mg each in the morning and before bedtime. After 2 months of pharmacotherapy, the achievement of the target level of blood pressure was assessed. In group 1, blood pressure was recorded in 47 (78.3 %), in group 2 – in 56 (94.9 %) patients (p < 0.05). The rest of the respondents, who did not reach the blood pressure target, underwent correction of antihypertensive therapy and were excluded from further follow-up. Accordingly, further follow-up was carried out in 47 patients of group 1 (group 1a) and 56 patients of group 2 (group 2a). Initially and after 12 months of therapy, echocardiography parameters ("ALOKA SSD 2500", Japan), as well as daily blood pressure monitoring with determination of central aortic pressure (Peter Telegin LLC BPLabVasotens, Russia) were performed. The results of the study were processed using the Statistica 12.0 program (StatSoftInc, USA).

   Results. At the time of inclusion in the study, the main parameters of the central aortic pressure and echocardiography parameters in both groups of patients were equivalent. After 12 months a statistically more significant decrease in the main parameters of the central aortic pressure (average daily systolic and diastolic pressure in the aorta, pulse pressure in the aorta, augmentation index in the aorta, amplification of pulse pressure, duration of the expulsion period, subendocardial blood flow efficiency index), as well as echocardiography indicators was recorded in group 2a (end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions, thickness of the interventricular septum, thickness of the posterior wall of the left ventricular myocardium, left ventricular myocardial mass, left ventricular myocardial mass index and ejection fraction) (p < 0.05). The left ventricular myocardial geometry normalized during therapy was recorded significantly more often in group 2a than in group 1a (p < 0.05).

   Conclusion. Two times a day intake of valsartan with thiazidelike diuretic in the morning facilitated more significant improvement of central aortic pressure, echocardiography parameters and as well as an improvement in the geometry of the left ventricular myocardium comparing to just morning intake.

   The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This virus has many factors in its pathogenesis that affect the function of the right ventricle and pulmonary hemodynamics, which can negatively influence the clinical course of IPAH. According to the results of our study, the fact of getting over COVID-19 in patients with IPAH leads to some changes in laboratory and instrumental parameters. But no significant effect of COVID-19 on risk modification during the year was detected. This result can be explained by a combination of pathophysiological features of the pulmonary hypertension and the protective effect of constantly taken PAH-specific and anticoagulant therapy.

   Relevance. The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences have significantly affected the health of the population as a whole. Persons who have undergone coronavirus infection against the background of chronic cardiovascular diseases and obesity deserve special attention.

   Aim. To study and compare the main indicators of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism the level of inflammatory and haemostasis markers, microvascular changes in obesity AH patients and in AH patients with normal body weight 1 month after a new coronavirus infection in moderate to severe form.

   Materials and methods. The study included 87 patients of both sexes, aged from 18 to 55 years, from which three groups were formed: the first group included people with AH and normal body weight (BMI<25 kg/m²) who had undergone COVID-19 within a month, the second group included people with AH and obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m²) who had undergone COVID-19 within a month, the control group consisted of 20 people with AH and obesity without COVID-19. The parameters of height, weight, waist circumference, and BMI were assessed in all subjects. The parameters of lipid profile, glucose level were determined, inflammatory markers and haemostasis parameters. All participants underwent laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) on the forearm with constrictor and dilator functional tests, and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in combination with x-ray computed tomography (SPECT/CT).

   Results. Patients of groups 1 and 2 naturally differed from each other in anthropometric indicators. Lipid and carbohydrate metabolism rates were also significantly higher in group 2 patients compared to group 1 patients (p < 0.05). The CRP level in the group of people with hypertension and obesity who underwent COVID-19 was significantly higher than in people with hypertension without obesity (p < 0.001) and than in people with hypertension and obesity without a history of COVID-19. When comparing microcirculation parameters by LDF, there was a decrease in tissue hemoperfusion (M), blood flow reserve (RK) in all three groups (p < 0.001), the most pronounced dysfunction of neurogenic and myogenic blood flow regulation was detected in the group of people with hypertension and
obesity who underwent COVID-19.

   Conclusion. The study of microcirculation indicators by LDF method in persons with hypertension and obesity after suffering a coronavirus infection indicates the predominance of the spastic type of microcirculation, which, together with an increase in the levels of inflammatory markers, indicates a higher risk of thrombosis and cardiovascular complications, requiring more careful monitoring and treatment of this group of patients.

   Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe progressive disease with a pure prognosis, which symptoms have a negative impact on patient's quality of life (QoL). Due to the implementation of new effective PAH-specific drugs, currently the task of therapy is not only to prolong the patient's life, but also to improve its quality. The term "QoL" combines information about the main areas of human life: psychological, social, physical and mental well-being. A set of laboratory and instrumental tests is being used to diagnose PAH, but they cannot characterize indicators of QoL. The main tool for studying QoL is a questionnaire. Questionnaires for assessing QoL can be divided into two groups: universal (general) and special (disease-specific). general questionnaires are used to study QoL both in healthy people and in various diseases. Special questionnaires contain specific components for a particular disease, and therefore must be the most sensitive. The first studies of QoL in patients with PAH showed significant disorders in all areas of patients' lives. Currently, many randomized controlled trials of the efficacy of PAH-specific therapy study QoL using various questionnaires as a secondary end-point. SF-36 and EuroQol-5D are used the most commonly among the general questionnaires. Special questionnaires have been developed and validated to assess QoL in patients with PAH relatively recently. Each questionnaire has its advantages and disadvantages. In this review we will consider the possibilities of assessing QoL in patients with PAH using universal (SF-36, EuroQol-5D) and disease-specific for PAH (CAMPHOR, PAH-SYMPACT, EmPHasis-10) questionnaires. These questionnaires have proven to be a valuable instrument in scientific and clinical practice, which is emphasized in actual 2022 ESC/ERS guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Currently it is of interest to study the relationship between the results of QoL questionnaires and clinical, laboratory and instrumental tests.