[Present-day treatment of arterial hypertension]

Andreas Schuchert1

  • 1Medizinische Klinik, Friedrich-Ebert-Krankenhaus, Friesenstrasse 11, 24531 Neumünster. andreas.schuchert@fek.de

Medizinische Monatsschrift Fur Pharmazeuten
|December 31, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Lowering blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg reduces cardiovascular risk. Preferred antihypertensive drugs offer additional benefits for comorbidities, especially for high-risk patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Context:

  • Arterial hypertension management aims to decrease blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg.
  • This reduction mitigates cardiovascular disease risk and enhances longevity.
  • Five primary drug classes exist: ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta-receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics.

Purpose:

  • To guide the selection of antihypertensive medications based on efficacy and additional patient benefits.
  • To highlight the organ-protective properties of certain drug classes, like renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors.
  • To recommend preferred drug combinations for specific patient profiles, including those with high cardiovascular risk, diabetes, heart failure, or coronary heart disease.

Summary:

  • All major antihypertensive drug classes effectively lower blood pressure within a similar range.
  • Drugs with additional benefits for patient comorbidities should be prioritized.
  • Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors offer organ-protective effects, making them crucial for high-risk patients.

Impact:

  • Recommends ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers for patients with high cardiovascular risk (e.g., coronary heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease).
  • Advocates for initial low-dose combination therapy to achieve target blood pressure more effectively.
  • Suggests specific combinations: calcium channel blockers with RAAS inhibitors for diabetics, and RAAS inhibitors with beta-receptor blockers for patients with coronary heart disease or heart failure.

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