This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Study: Prevalence of resistant hypertension found in daily practice
de la Sierra A. Hypertension. 2011;doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.110.168948.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Resistant hypertension was found to be present in 12% of the population treated for hypertension in a new study.
Although a worse risk profile correlated with resistant hypertension, the researchers reported that this association was weak and emphasized the importance of ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) for a correct diagnosis and management.
In the study, researchers identified 68,045 patients who had adequate data on office BP measurements, good quality ABPM and complete clinical information. The criteria for resistant hypertension was defined as office systolic BP of at least 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP of at least 90 mm Hg, despite the use of three antihypertensive drugs, one of which was a diuretic, or treatment with four or more antihypertensive drugs irrespective of office BP values.
After determining the number of patients who fit the criteria (n=10,052; 14.8%), researchers narrowed the population to those with uncontrolled BP values (office systolic BP >140 and/or diastolic BP >90 mm Hg) who were being treated with three or more antihypertensive agents, leaving them with 8,295 patients (12.2%).
After ABPM, 62.5% of this population had true resistant hypertension, with the remaining (37.5%) having white-coat resistance. Among the variables associated with true resistant vs. white-coat resistant hypertension were a younger age, a worse CV risk profile, a longer duration of hypertension, diabetes and documented CVD.
Regarding these variables, the researchers said although they may be helpful in differentiating true from white-coat resistant hypertension, “the intensity of the association is weak and it must be emphasized that ABPM continues to be needed and must be encouraged for a correct diagnosis and management of all hypertensive patients not controlled on three or more antihypertensive drugs.”
To read Cardiology Today’s blog entry on white-coat hypertension and masked hypertension by Franz H. Messerli, MD, medical director, division of research at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, click here.
 |
Follow CardiologyToday.com on Twitter. |