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Published on: November 18, 2018
Treating hypertension in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: hitting the fairway and avoiding the rough
Samuel W Joffe1, Robert A Phillips
1University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. Samuel.joffe2@umassmemorial.org
Insights
For patients with left ventricular dysfunction, a target blood pressure of 120-140/70-90 mm Hg is suggested. Lower blood pressure goals may be preferable if tolerated by the patient.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Heart Failure Management
Background:
- Hypertension is a primary risk factor for heart failure (HF).
- Current guidelines lack specific blood pressure (BP) targets for patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.
- Optimal BP targets for HF patients with LV dysfunction remain undefined by randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence and define optimal blood pressure goals for patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction.
- To address the clinical question of target BP in patients with established LV dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical evidence.
- Analysis of factors influencing hypertension management in heart failure patients.
- Consideration of HF type (reduced vs. preserved ejection fraction), etiology, symptom severity, and patient-specific factors.
Main Results:
- No RCTs specifically define optimal BP targets for HF patients with LV dysfunction.
- Numerous trials support the benefits of certain medication classes and treatment strategies in HF.
- A suggested target BP range of 120-140/70-90 mm Hg is proposed for most patients with LV dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- A BP target of 120-140/70-90 mm Hg is recommended for patients with LV dysfunction.
- Lower BP targets should be considered when clinically tolerated.
- Individualized treatment strategies are crucial for managing hypertension in HF patients with LV dysfunction.
Abstract:
Hypertension is a major risk factor in the development of heart failure (HF), yet current guidelines do not specify a target blood pressure (BP) for patients with established systolic or diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. While no randomized controlled trial (RCT) has been conducted to specify the optimal blood pressure in these patients, numerous trials have demonstrated the benefits of certain classes of medications and treatment strategies in patients with HF. Important factors to consider in treating hypertension in patients with HF include the type of HF (reduced vs. preserved ejection fraction), the etiology (ischemic vs. nonischemic), the severity of symptoms if any, the baseline blood pressure, as well as a wide variety of patient-specific factors. This paper reviews current evidence to address the question, "What should be the blood pressure goal in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction?" We suggest a target blood pressure of 120-140/70-90 mm Hg in most cases, with lower pressures generally preferable if tolerated.
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