Cardiology Flashcards
What is essential hypertension?
Hypertension with no identifiable cause
What are risk factors for essential hypertension?
Increased age, family history, male sex, african-americans
What can essential hypertension lead to (broadly)?
Cardiac, renal and cerebral events
In primary care, if a patient has an initial blood pressure reading of >140/90, what should you do?
Repeat their blood pressure
In primary care, if a patients second blood pressure reading is again >140/90, what should you do?
Offer ambulatory or home blood pressure monitoring
How is ambulatory blood pressure monitoring done?
2 blood pressure measurements are taken per hour during usual waking hours (around 14 readings a day). An average blood pressure is then calculated from these
How is home blood pressure monitoring done?
2 consecutive blood pressure measurements are taken 1 minute apart, twice daily for 4-7 days. Measurements on day 1 are discarded and then an average of the other readings calculates the blood pressure.
How is end organ damage assessed in essential hypertension?
Test urine for proteinuria
Take bloods for glucose, electrolytes, creatinine, eGFR, cholesterol
Examine fundi for hypertensive retinopathy
Arrange a 12-lead ECG
What is stage 1 hypertension defined as (clinic & ABPM readings)?
Clinic ≥ 140/90
ABPM ≥135/85
What is stage 2 hypertension defined as (clinic & ABPM readings)?
Clinic ≥ 160/100
ABPM ≥ 150/95
What is severe hypertension defined as (clinic readings)?
Clinic ≥ 180 systolic or diastolic ≥ 110
What lifestyle interventions can be done for hypertension?
Healthy diet, low salt diet
Aerobic exercise
Stop smoking
Decrease alcohol intake
What is the first line treatment for patients under 55 with essential hypertension?
ACE inhibitor or ARB (e.g. rampipril or losartan)
What is the first line treatment for patients ≥55 or afro-carribean with essential hypertension?
Calcium channel blocker (e.g. amlodipine)
What is the second line treatment for essential hypertension?
ACEi/ARB + Calcium channel blocker
What is the third line treatment for essential hypertension?
ACEi/ARB + Calcium channel blocker + thiazide diuretic
Which kind of thiazide diuretics should patients be started on for 3rd line essential hypertension treatment?
Indapamide or chlortalidone
What drug is added 4th line in essential hypertension if the patients potassium is less than 4.5mmol?
Spironolactone
What is the 4th line treatment of essential hypertension if the patients potassium is more than 4.5mmol?
Higher dose of thiazide diuretic
How do ACE inhibitors work?
Prevent conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II leading to vasodilation and decreased BP
What are side effects of ACE inhibitors?
Dry cough, hyperkalaemia, fatigues, dizziness, headache
How do ARBs work?
Block angiotensin II receptors resulting in vasodilation and decreased BP
What are side effects of ARBs?
Dizziness, headache
What type of calcium channel blockers are used in hypertension treatment?
Dihydropiridines
What are side effects of dihydropiridines?
Flushing, headache, ankle swelling
How do calcium channel blockers work?
Block voltage gated calcium channels
How do thiazide diuretics work?
Inhibit sodium resorption at the distal convoluted tubule
What are side effects of thiazide diuretics?
Postural hypotension, gout, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance
What kind of drug is spironolactone?
Aldosterone agonist
What are some side effects of spironolactone?
Nausea, vomiting, hyperkalaemia, rashes, gynaecomastia
What does the umbrella term acute coronary syndrome cover?
Unstable angina, STEMI, NSTEMI
What are risk factors for acute coronary syndrome?
Obesity, smoking, family history, high cholesterol, alcohol
What are the two consequences of atherosclerotic plaque build up in the arteries?
Narrowing of the arteries (causing less blood any oxygen)
Sudden plaque rupture causing arterial occlusion
What are symptoms of acute coronary syndrome?
Pain - left sided, radiating to jaw and down arm
Breathlessness
Sweating
Nausea & vomiting
What causes STEMI?
Complete occlusion of a coronary artery due to plaque rupture, leading to myocardial ischaemia
What ECG changes do you see in STEMI?
ST elevation, T wave inversion, Q waves
What are the 3 criteria on an ECG that would be suggestive of STEMI?
≥1mm elevation in 2 adjacent limb leads OR
≥2mm elevation in 2 contiguous chest leads OR
New LBBB
Is troponin elevated in STEMI?
Yes
What leads will you see ST elevation in an inferior MI?
II, III, aVF
What artery is occluded in an inferior MI?
Right coronary artery
Why is an inferior MI likely to cause arrythmias?
As the RCA supplies the AV node and sometimes the SA node
What leads will you see ST elevation in an anterior MI?
V1-V6
What leads will you see ST elevation in an anteroseptal MI?
V1-V4
What leads will you see ST elevation in an anterolateral MI?
I, aVL, V5. V6
What artery is occluded in an anterior MI?
Left anterior descending (LAD)
What artery is occluded in a lateral MI?
Left circumflex
What leads will you see ECG changes in a posterior STEMI?
V1-V3 - ST DEPRESSION
What is an NSTEMI?
ACS where there is plaque rupture but transient/non-complete arterial occlusion
What are the ECG changes in NSTEMI?
Normal or ST depression and T wave inversion
Is troponin elevated in NSTEMI?
YES
What is unstable angina?
An ACS with no evidence of cardiac damage
What are the ECG changes in unstable angina?
Normal or ST depression and T wave inversion
Is troponin elevated in unstable angina?
NO
What drugs should all patients presenting with ACS be given ASAP?
Aspirin 300mg
Ticagrelor 180mg
Metoprolol 50-100mg/5-15mg IV
If a patient has ST elevation, how long is the window for doing PCI from diagnosis?
<120 minutes
If a patient with ST elevation is not able to get PCI within 120 minutes from diagnosis, how should you manage them?
Thrombolysis IV (Alteplase) and fondaparinux
After thrombolysis, when should you perform an ECG?
90 minutes later to check for resolution of ST elevation
How should patients with no ST elevation be managed first (following aspirin, ticagrelor & metoprolol)?
Fondaparinux or LMWH SC
Nitrates IV
After initial management of no ST elevation ACS, what should be calculated?
GRACE Score - estimates risk of death/MI
If the GRACE score is medium to high what should be done?
Coronary angiography
Following ACS, what antiplatelet therapy should all patients be on and for how long?
6 months dual antiplatelet therapy - aspirin 75mg and ticagrelor 90mg BD
Then aspirin 75mg lifelong
What other maintenance medications should all patients with ACS be put on?
ACE inhibitor - lifelong
Statin - lifelong
Beta-blocker - at least 12 months/lifelong
What is heart failure?
When cardiac output is inadequate for the bodies requirements
What is the pathophysiology of the systolic nature of heart failure?
Inability of the ventricle to contract normally, leading to a decreased ejection fraction and therefore decrease CO
What is the pathophysiology of the diastolic nature of heart failure?
Inability of the ventricle to relax and fill normally causing increased filling pressures (note that systolic and