Cardiology: HTN, CVS Disease & Stable Angina Flashcards
What BP readings suggest a diagnosis of HTN?
(both clinical setting and ambulatory/home readings)
Clinical –> above 140/90
Confirmed with ambulatory or home readings above 135/85
Essential hypertension accounts for 90% of hypertension. What does this mean?
This is also known as primary hypertension.
It means a high blood pressure has developed on its own and does not have a secondary cause.
Secondary causes of hypertension can be remembered with the “ROPED” mnemonic.
What are these?
R - Renal disease
O - Obesity
P - Pregnancy-induced or pre-eclampsia
E - Endocrine
D - Drugs e.g. alcohol, steroids, NSAIDs, oestrogen, liquorice
What is the most common cause of 2ary HTN?
Renal disease
When the blood pressure is very high or does not respond to treatment, what disease should you consider?
Renal artery stenosis
How can renal artery stenosis be diagnosed (i.e. what investigation)?
Diagnosed with duplex US or an MR or CT angiogram.
Most endocrine conditions can cause hypertension.
What is an important condition to consider?
Hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome)
give some complications of HTN
- Ischaemic heart disease (angina and acute coronary syndrome)
- Cerebrovascular accident (stroke or intracranial haemorrhage)
- Vascular disease (peripheral arterial disease, aortic dissection and aortic aneurysms)
- Hypertensive retinopathy
- Hypertensive nephropathy
- Vascular dementia
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Heart failure
Which ventricle may become hypertrophied in HTN?
Left ventricle - straining to pump blood against increased resistance in the arterial system, so the muscle becomes thicker.
What cardio exam findings may there be with LV hypertrophy (think apex beat)?
Sustained and foreful apex beat
Which investigation is best to diagnose LV hypertrophy?
Echocardiogram
How often should BP be measured to screen for HTN?
Every 5 years (but more often in borderline cases and every year in patients with type 2 diabetes)
How often should BP be measured to screen for HTN in patients with T2D?
Every year
What clinic BP would indicate the need for 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure or home readings?
Clinic blood pressure between 140/90 mmHg and 180/120 mmHg
Why are home readings required as well as clinc BP readings?
White coat syndrome
NICE recommend measuring blood pressure in both arms.
If the difference between arms is MORE THAN 15mmHg, which BP reading should you use?
Use reading from arm with higher pressure
What clinic BP readings define:
1) Stage 1 HTN
2) Stage 2 HTN
3) Stage 3 HTN
What ambulatory or home readings confirm these?
1) Above 140/90 –> confirmed with above 135/85 (ambulatory/home)
2) Above 160/100 –> confirmed with above 150/95
3) Above 180/120
What is ambulatory blood pressure monitoring?
records your blood pressure (BP) readings over a 24-hour period, whether you’re awake or asleep (as you go about your daily life)
What investigations should all patients with a new HTN diagnosis have?
1) Bloods –> HbA1c, renal function and lipids
2) Fundus exam –> hypertensive retinopathy
3) ECG –> for cardiac abnormalities (including LV hypertrophy)
4) Urine albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) –> for proteinuria (kidney damage)
5) Urine dipstick –> for microscopic haematuria (assess for kidney damage)
For patients with HTN, a QRISK score should be calculated.
What is a QRISK score?
Estimates the percentage risk that a patient will have a stroke or myocardial infarction in the next 10 years.
If a patient’s QRISK score is above 10%, what should they be offered?
Statin –> initially atorvastatin 20mg at night
What is starting statin and dose for patients with QRISK of above 10%?
Atorvastatin 20mg at night
Why should statins be taken at night?
Many statins work more effectively when they are taken at night. This is because the enzyme which makes the cholesterol is more active at night.
Lifestyle advice in HTN management?
- Smoking cessation
- Reduce alcohol
- Regular exercise
- Reduce caffeine and salt intake
- Healthy diet
What medications are used in HTN management?
Think ABCD ARB
A - ACEi (e.g. ramipril)
B - beta blocker (e.g. bisprolol)
C - calcium channel blocker (e.g. amlodipine)
D - thiazide like Diuretic (e.g. indapamide)
ARB - angiotensin II receptor blocker (e.g. candesartan)
Which medication is recommended 1st line for HTN in patients aged <55 (caucasian)?
ACEi
Which medication is recommended 1st line for HTN in patients aged <55 (black african or african-caribbean)?
Calcium channel blocker
Which medication is recommended 1st line for HTN in patients of black african or african-caribbean decent REGARDLESS of age?
Calcium channel blocker
Which medication is recommended 1st line for HTN in patients with T2D REGARDLESS of age?
ACEi
Which medication is recommended 1st line for HTN in patients aged >/=55 (caucasian)?
Calcium channel blocker
What is stepwise pharmacological management of HTN in those aged <55 or with T2D (regardless of age)?
- ACEi
- Add CCB or thiazide-like diuretic
- ACEi + CCB + thiazide
- Check potassium:
a) if </= 4.5mmol/l, add spironolactone
b) if > 4.5 mmol/l add alpha or beta blocker
What is stepwise pharmacological management of HTN in those aged >/= 55 (with no T2D) or Black African or African-Caribbean ethnicity?
- CCB
- CCB + ARB or CCB + thiazide like diuretic
- CCB + ARB + thiazide
- Check potassium:
a) if </= 4.5mmol/l, add spironolactone
b) if > 4.5 mmol/l add alpha or beta blocker
Who are ARBs recommended in?
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are recommended by NICE instead of ACE inhibitors in patients of Black African or African-Caribbean family origin.
Can you use ACEi and ARBs together?
no
If someone cannot tolerate ACEi (commonly due to dry cough), what can be given instead?
ARBs
If someone cannot tolerate CCBs (commonly due to ankle oedema), what can be given instead?
Thiazide-like diuretics
What is most common reason for patients not being able to tolerate CBBs?
Ankle oedema
Step 4 of pharmacological management of HTN depends on the serum potassium level.
What is given if K+ is less than or equal to 4.5 mmol/L?
consider a potassium-sparing diuretic, such as spironolactone
Step 4 of pharmacological management of HTN depends on the serum potassium level.
What is given if K+ is more than 4.5 mmol/L?
consider an alpha blocker (e.g., doxazosin) or a beta blocker (e.g., atenolol)
What is important to always check in HTN management?
adherence
What class of drug is spironolactone?
Potassium-sparing diuretic.
Mechanism of spironolactone?
Blocks action of ALDOSTERONE in the kidneys, resulting in sodium excretion and potassium reabsorption.
What does spironolactone increase the risk of?
Hyperkalaemia
What 2 classes of HTN drugs can cause hyperkalaemia?
- ACEi
- K+ sparing diuretics e.g. spironolactone
What is important to regularly monitor in patients on spironolactone or ACEi?
U&Es
What is the BP target for those aged <80 y/o?
<140/90 (clinic)
N.B. this is the same for those with T2D
What is the BP target for those aged >80 y/o?
<150/90
What is malignant HTN?
Accelerated hypertension - refers to extremely high blood pressure, above 180/120, with retinal haemorrhages or papilloedema.
What BP defines malignant HTN?
> 180/120