Arterial hypertension.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Arterial hypertension significantly contributes to the global disease burden, yet effective disease control remains a challenge.
• Current hypertension diagnosis relies on office blood pressure, but out-of-office measurements are recommended for confirmation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current understanding and management strategies for arterial hypertension.
• To highlight the gap between hypertension's controllability and actual patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of current hypertension guidelines and therapeutic options.
• Discussion of pharmacological and device-based treatment approaches.
• Emphasis on lifestyle modifications in hypertension management.

Main Results:

• First-line pharmacological treatments include ACE inhibitors/ARBs, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics, often as single-pill combinations.
• Spironolactone is a recommended fourth-line agent, and device-based therapies like renal denervation are emerging.
• Despite being controllable, awareness, treatment, and control rates for hypertension remain low.

Conclusions:

• Arterial hypertension requires urgent improvements in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up processes.
• Enhanced patient management strategies are essential to improve control rates and reduce the global burden of hypertension.