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The treatment of adults with essential hypertension
1OSF Medical Group, 3409 Ludington, Escanaba, MI 49837, USA. doshstev@msu.edu
Insights
Essential hypertension, a common condition affecting millions, often goes untreated, increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Effective management strategies are crucial for controlling blood pressure and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Hypertension, defined by elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or systolic blood pressure (SBP), affects a significant portion of the adult population.
- Essential hypertension, lacking a specific cause, constitutes over 95% of all hypertension cases.
- A substantial percentage of hypertensive individuals in the US face increased cardiovascular disease risk due to inadequate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the treatment modalities for essential hypertension in adults.
- To discuss the prognosis of untreated hypertension.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of risk stratification, alternative therapies, lifestyle modifications, and drug treatments for essential hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and clinical guidelines on hypertension diagnosis and treatment.
- Analysis of epidemiological data regarding hypertension prevalence and control rates.
- Sequential examination of risk stratification, alternative therapies, lifestyle modification, drug therapy, and prognosis.
Main Results:
- Only 53% of patients with hypertension receive treatment, and merely 24% have their condition under control.
- Uncontrolled hypertension significantly elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Physicians play a critical role in the identification and management of hypertension.
Conclusions:
- Essential hypertension requires active medical intervention to mitigate associated health risks.
- A multi-faceted approach including lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy is vital for effective hypertension management.
- Timely diagnosis and consistent treatment are essential for improving the prognosis of patients with essential hypertension.
Abstract:
Hypertension is arbitrarily defined as diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 mm Hg or higher, systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 140 mm Hg or higher, or both, on 3 separate occasions. Essential hypertension is hypertension without an identifiable cause. Essential hypertension, also known as primary or idiopathic hypertension, accounts for at least 95% of all cases of hypertension. According to the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), approximately 60% of the 50 million Americans with hypertension are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease resulting from uncontrolled hypertension. This is because only 53% of hypertensive patients are being treated and only 24% have their hypertension under control. Physicians must play an active role in identifying and treating hypertension. In an earlier Applied Evidence article, an approach to the diagnosis of hypertension was presented. This article reviews the treatment of essential hypertension in adults and the prognosis of untreated hypertension. Risk stratification, alternative therapies, lifestyle modification, drug therapy, and prognosis will each be reviewed sequentially.