Evolution of the treatment of hypertension: what really matters in the 1990s?

Over the past decade we have seen a shift in the strategy for the treatment of hypertension, from stepped therapy--involving a highly structured, unvarying series of steps--to recommendations for more individualized treatment. How shall we accomplish that goal? Severe hypertension provides a clear indication to bypass earlier recommendations. Demographic data such as age, gender, and race, often cited, have proved less helpful. Concomitant medical problems, which are found in greater than 50% of hypertensive patients, are most often the crucial determinants in the selection of antihypertensive therapy. Concurrent coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, azotemia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, borderline cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression are all common. Each has implications for antihypertensive therapy. Moreover, blood pressure reduction is a surrogate for our real goal, which is reduction of cardiovascular risk. Thus, consideration of concomitant medical problems has extended to left ventricular hypertrophy, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance as additional risk factors in hypertension. Consideration of all of these factors makes it possible to individualize antihypertensive therapy in most patients.