It is quite good in certain countries particularly in North America， in some countries in Europe， in Australia to some degree， but in most of the world， less than 30% or less than 20%， even less than 10% of hypertensive patients are controlled to goal.  As we carry out these meetings we develop greater ability to control the blood pressure of our patients and accordingly we result in better outcomes across and reduce not only suffering but as well reduce financial burden for the healthcare system which today we know is constrained so the more we can do about this， the better.  I think these meetings are wonderful events that advance knowledge and advance control and contribute to improving the lives of people and the burden of disease across the world.

 

　　《国际循环》：今年的年会有何特别的亮点或是您认为尤为重要的内容？

 

　　Schiffrin教授：我认为本届年会有几个亮点。第一，探讨肾脏去神经治疗美国试验（SYMPLICITY HTN-3）的失败问题，探究美国试验中可能未实现的其他新技术、特定指标及可能性。实际上美国试验中，某些研究指标得以实现，在某些方面是成功的，而在某些方面则未获成功。要想促进领域的发展，进行这样的讨论是非常重要和有必要的。第二，有关心房颤动领域。心房颤动是高血压患者最常见的合并症，我在诊室经常会遇到新发心房颤动患者。我们做了大量的工作以积极避免心房颤动引发卒中，大会有很多关于新型抗凝药物的内容或讨论。此外，大会还涉及很多高血压管理及基础机制的内容。我认为，我们对高血压的基础机制进行越多讨论就能越多地了解其最新治疗靶标，从而改善目前世界大部分国家和地区血压控制不佳的现状。虽然北美、欧洲的一些国家及澳大利亚的血压控制情况相当不错，但实际上大部分国家和地区的高血压控制达标率不足30%或20%，甚至不足10%。举办这些会议则有助于提高我们控制患者血压的能力，有助于改善患者结局，降低高血压相关的疾病负担及其对医疗卫生系统的财政负担。鉴于目前医疗资源有限，我们做得越多，情况可能就会越好。因此，我认为这些会议是非常精彩和有意义的，能够促进知识的传播与交流，并有助于改善血压控制现状、提高患者的生活质量、减少疾病负担。

 

　　International Circulation : In China and in Asia， salt intake is a big issue.  Is that something that you are interested in?

 

　　Professor Schiffrin: I just chaired a symposium that was a joint symposium with the World Health Organization， the World Hypertension League， and the International Society of Hypertension and we discussed salt reduction， what can be done about salt， dietary salt reduction and there is no doubt in China， and in Japan， cultural reasons of adding salt during cooking and adding salt later， the acquired taste of salt and the inability to abandon salty foods results in high levels of prevalence in hypertension resulting in stroke.  Very high incidence of stroke particularly in Japan but also in China， much more than coronary artery disease’s consequence of hypertension.  It is very important that governments become aware of this， that physicians become aware of this and the population becomes aware of this and that healthy eating combined with reduction in salt intake take us towards the goal of less than 5g of salt per day.  We are very far from that unfortunately，  in Japan perhaps on average of 11g per day which means that many people eat 15g or more.  In China， not very far from that.  In Canada， we have about 8g of salt per day but we are asking for the population to reduce it to 5g and that would reduce the blood pressure of the population by a few mm of Hg and that would reduce the burden of disease and mortality quite dramatically.  Millions of lives can be saved.

 

　　《国际循环》：在中国和亚洲，钠盐摄入是个大问题。您对该问题是否感兴趣？

 

　　Schiffrin教授：我刚刚主持了一个世界卫生组织、世界高血压联盟及国际高血压学会联合举办的联合研讨会，就降低钠盐摄入、如何限盐及减少膳食钠盐摄入等问题进行了讨论。毫无疑问，在中国及日本，鉴于文化原因，人们在烹饪过程及烹制后均会加盐，口味较重，无法放弃食用较咸的食物，因此高血压患病率较高，卒中发生率也相应增加。中国和日本的卒中发生率均较高，其中尤以日本更高，高血压所致的卒中发生率远高于冠状动脉疾病。重要的是，政府部门、医生及公众均需要意识到这一点，并认识到健康饮食、将每天的钠盐摄入量降至5g以内的重要性。日本每天的钠盐摄入量平均可达11 g，很多人的摄入量≥15 g；中国的情况与之差不多。加拿大的平均每天钠盐摄入量虽然仅约为8g，但我们还是要求人们将其降至5g，因为这样有助于降低血压，显著减轻高血压的发病及死亡负担，拯救数百万的生命。