It is our pleasure to invite you to participate in The 5th International Conference on Prehypertension, Hypertension and Cardio Metabolic Syndrome, which will take place in Venice, Italy from 22-25 February, 2018.

Prehypertension is a part of the continuum from normotension to hypertension it is a part of a dynamic process of stiffening and aging of the arteries and of the heart with its consequences. Patients in the prehypertensive range will become finally hypertensive. Diseased arteries will not only participate in propagation of end organ damage but will enhance the progression of additional damage in the arteries and the heart. Understanding the risk of borderline conditions in the metabolic syndrome will enable us to understand the nature of end organ damage and will create a possibility of better prevention of this continuous process.

Prehypertension is usually associated with other components of the metabolic syndrome i.e. obesity, diabetes, glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia. This association is due to common mechanistic pathways and has implications on cardiovascular complications. Diet and exercise with or without drug therapy benefit all components of the metabolic syndrome. Antihypertensive medications may lead to deterioration in glucose tolerance while glucose lowering agents may affect blood pressure. Thus, any discussion about the approach to prehypertension must be done in context to the whole cardio metabolic risk.

The association of multiple CV risk factors enhances rate of progression of end organ damage and affects morbidity and mortality. The presence of multiple risk factors changes the prognosis of the patients and should affect our therapeutic approach- an area with insufficient information and guidelines.

Systolic blood pressure (BP) of less than 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP of less than 90 mm Hg were for years considered as normal. Mounting evidence suggest that BP in the high reference range is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The ESH report of 2006 defined it as “high normal” and the seventh report of the Join National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure defined a new BP category “Prehypertension” for systolic and diastolic BP: 120 to 139 mm Hg and 85 to 89 mm Hg, respectively. This new category is a continuum to hypertension and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

In most developing countries and in the urban areas of many countries, one in five to one in three adults fall in the category of prehypertension. Recommendation and guidelines in the field have substantial public health importance and enormous economic consequences.

The Conference will aim to deal with all aspects related to early diagnosis, including innovative technologies and treatments and will bring together professionals from the fields of Hypertension, Nephrology, Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology and more.

We hope that you will join us for what promises to be a stimulating professional and educational event and look forward to welcoming you to Venice.