GP/ Medicine - Hypertension Flashcards
What range of BP is considered normal?
120/80 mmHg
(Range: 90/60 mmHg - 140/90 mmHg)
What are the causes of hypertension?
Primary (or Essential) hypertension - idiopathic and related to old ages
Secondary hypertension (CREEP):
Coarctation of aorta
Renal/ RAAS activation e.g. glomerulonephritis, CKD, PCKD, Renal artery stenosis
Endocrine e.g. Conn’s syndrome, phaeochromocytoma, Cushing’s syndrome, Hyperthyroidism
Eclampsia
Pill/ Pregnancy e.g. alcohol, cocaine, COCP, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, beta/ alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, antidepressants, calcineurin inhibitors (ciclosporin/ tacrolimus), EPO
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
(Decreased O2 level causes the heart to pump fast with more force, so an increase in SV and HR causes an increase in CO which raises the BP)
Give 3 modifiable and 3 non-modifiable risk factors
Modifiable risk factors:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High salt intake
Non-Modifiable risk factors
- Old age
- FH
- Gender (BP is higher in men 65 yrs old)
What is stage 1 HTN?
Clinic BP >/= 140/90 mmHg + subsequent ABPM or HBPM >/= 135/ 85 mmHg
What is stage 2 HTN?
Clinica BP >/= 160/100 mmHg + subsequent ABPM or HBPM >/= 150/95 mmHg
What is stage 3 HTN?
Clinical SBP >/= 180 mmHg OR clinical DBP >/= 120 mmHg
What is ABPM?
A device that takes serial BP measurements over a 24-hr period, as you are moving around and living your normal daily life.
Since it’s measured for up to 24 hrs, it’s also called 24-hr blood pressure monitoring
What is HBPM?
Self-recorded BP mreasurement taken at home or work
When should ABPM or HBPM be offered?
If Clinic BP >/= 140/90
Why do we need to do ABPM or HBPM?
Avoid overdiagnosing patients with ‘white coat HTN’
What should you do next if the first clinical BP reading is > 140/90?
NICE guideline recommends taking a second reading. The lower reading of the two should determine further management. If the second reading is > 140/90, offer ABPM/ HBPM
When would you NOT offer ABPM/ HBPM and instead jump straight to starting treatment right away?
If the patient has severe hypertension i.e. if their clinical SBP >/= 180 or clinical DBP > 120
- If there are signs of papilloedema or retinal haemorrhages –> SAME DAY REFERRAL to an ophthalmologist
- If suspected phaeochromocytoma –> SAME DAY REFERRAL to an endocrinologist)
- If there are life-threatening symptoms e.g. confusion, chest pain, signs of heart failure, or AKI –> SAME DAY REFERRAL to a cardiologist
- If patients have none of the above (i.e. no worrying signs), then arrange urgent investigations for end-organ damage e.g. bloods, fundoscopy, urine dip, ECG
- If target organ damage is identified, start antihypertensive IMMEDIATELY, without waiting for the results of ABPM/ HBPM
- If no target organ damage is identified, repeat clinic BP measurement within 7 days
What are the different stages for hypertensive retinopathy?
Grade 1 - generalised arteriolar narrowing
Grade 2 - Areas of focal narrowing + arteriovenous nipping (AV-nipping)
Grade 3 - Retinal haemorrhages, cotton wool spots, hard exudates
Grade 4 (Malignant hypertension) - optic disc swelling (papilloedema) + macular star (ring of exudates around the macula)
What are the clinical features of hypertension?
- Asymptomatic, unless it’s very high e.g. > 200/120 mmHg
- Headaches
- Visual disturbances
- Seizures
- Features of an underlying cause:
- Palpitations, headaches, sweating in phaeochromocytoma
- Muscle weakness, tetany or numbness in hyperaldosteronism due to hypokalaemia
- Central/ truncal obesity, moon face, weight gain, buffalo hump in Cushing’s syndrome
- ‘SWEATING’ (mnemonic), exophthalmos, pre-tibial myxoedema in hyperthyroidism
- Enlarged kidneys and haematuria in PCKD; renal bruits in renal artery stenosis
- Radio-femoral delay in coarctation of aorta
- Assess for end-organ damage:
- Fundoscopy - check for hypertensive retinopathy
- Urine dipstick - to check for renal disease e.g. proteinuria, haematuria
- ECG - check for LVH and IHD (due to increased afterload)
What are the features of end-organ damage secondary to severe hypertension?
Features of end-organ damage:
Hypertensive retinopathy e.g. papilloedema, retinal haemorrhages
Proteinuria, haematuria, high urine ACR
LVH, IHD