T4 - HTN Assessment Flashcards
What are the 2017 ACC/AHA thresholds for hypertension?
SBP > 130 mmHg or DBP > 80 mmHg.
How many people in the US are affected by hypertension?
Over 100 million.
Which race has the highest prevalence of hypertension in the US?
African Americans at 40%.
Which countries have higher hypertension rates?
Low- to middle-income countries.
What is the lifetime risk of developing hypertension in the US?
90%.
What are the blood pressure parameters in the classification of systemic blood pressure in adults? (i.e. normal, elevated, stage 1, stage 2)
What conditions are associated with chronic hypertension?
Ischemic heart disease, stroke, renal failure, retinopathy, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and increased overall mortality.
Why is hypertension a concern in the surgical population?
It’s a common risk factor for perioperative morbidity and mortality, especially if untreated.
What does the spectrum of chronic hypertension include?
It ranges from elevated BP to severe disease.
Name the three subtypes of hypertension based on blood pressure readings.
Isolated systolic HTN (SBP >130 mm Hg and DBP <80 mm Hg)
isolated diastolic HTN(SBP <130 mm Hg with DBP >80 mm Hg)
combined systolic and diastolic HTN. (SBP >130 mm Hg and DBP >80 mm Hg)
Do risk associations and treatment goals vary among hypertension subtypes?
Yes, they can vary among the subtypes.
What does a widened pulse pressure indicate?
It correlates with vascular remodeling and stiffness, posing a risk for cardiovascular morbidity.
What distinguishes primary from secondary hypertension?
Primary HTN has unclear causes but includes factors like SNS activity and RAAS dysregulation, while secondary HTN has specific, often correctable, causes.
What are contributing factors to primary hypertension?
Increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity, dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and a deficiency in endogenous vasodilators.
What are some genetic and lifestyle risk factors associated with hypertension?
Obesity, alcoholism, and tobacco use.
What are common causes of secondary hypertension in middle-aged adults?
Hyperaldosteronism, thyroid dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Cushing’s syndrome, and pheochromocytoma.
What are common causes of secondary hypertension in children?
Renal parenchymal disease and coarctation of the aorta.
Correlation Graphs
Top L: Correlation btw SBP and Ischemic heart dz mortality across 5 age groups
Correlation Graphs
Top R: Correlation btw DBP and Ischemic heart dz mortality across 5 age groups
Correlation Graphs
Bottom L:Correlation btw SBP and Stroke mortality across 5 age groups
Correlation Graphs
Bottom R: Correlation btw DBP and stroke mortality across 5 age groups
Drugs that might raise BP
Secondary HTN Causes
What structural changes does chronic hypertension induce in arteries?
Chronic hypertension leads to the remodeling of small and large arteries and endothelial dysfunction, which can cause irreversible end-organ damage.
What role does disseminated vasculopathy play in chronic hypertensive patients?
It contributes significantly to ischemic heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), congestive heart failure (CHF), cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), aortic aneurysm, and nephropathy.
Which ultrasound measurement can provide an early diagnosis of vasculopathy?
Measurement of the common carotid intimal-to-medial thickness and arterial pulse-wave velocity.
What diagnostic trends may track the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)?
Trends on an EKG and echocardiogram.
Which imaging modality can be used to follow microangiopathic changes indicative of cerebrovascular damage?
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
What is the general therapeutic blood pressure goal for treating hypertension?
The goal is to achieve a blood pressure reading below 130/80 mmHg.
How many people in the US have untreated hypertension?
Approximately 28 million.
How many treated hypertension patients are above their blood pressure goal?
Around 29 million.
What is considered resistant hypertension?
Blood pressure that remains above goal despite using three or more antihypertensive medications at maximum doses.
What does treatment for resistant hypertension typically include?
A long-acting calcium channel blocker (LA CCB), an ACE inhibitor (ACI-I) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and a diuretic.
What is controlled resistant hypertension?
Blood pressure that is controlled but requires four or more medications.
What percentage of patients have refractory hypertension?
Approximately 0.5%, which is characterized by uncontrolled blood pressure on five or more drugs.
What can cause pseudo-resistant hypertension?
Pseudo-resistant hypertension can be due to inaccuracies in blood pressure measurement (like white-coat syndrome) or medication noncompliance.
What lifestyle modifications can help manage hypertension?
Weight loss, reducing alcohol consumption (↓ETOH), regular exercise, and smoking cessation.
How does body mass index (BMI) relate to hypertension?
There is a continuous relationship between increased BMI and higher blood pressure.
What benefits does weight loss offer to hypertensive patients?
Weight loss is an effective nonpharmacologic intervention that can directly reduce blood pressure and enhance the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs.
What blood pressure improvement can overweight adults expect with weight loss?
They can expect a 1 mmHg reduction in blood pressure for every 1 kg of weight loss.
What is the effect of increasing physical activity on blood pressure?
Even modest increases in physical activity are associated with decreases in blood pressure.
How does excessive alcohol use affect hypertension?
It is associated with increased hypertension and can also lead to resistance to antihypertensive drugs.
What is the relationship between dietary potassium and calcium intake and hypertension?
Potassium and calcium intake are inversely related to hypertension and cerebrovascular disease.
What is the impact of salt restriction on blood pressure?
Salt restriction is associated with small but consistent decreases in blood pressure.
What do the ACC/AHA guidelines recommend for the diagnosis and management of hypertension?
They recommend out-of-office blood pressure measurements for the diagnosis and titration of antihypertensive medications.
When should patients with ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions be treated with blood pressure medications?
Treatment is recommended if their systolic blood pressure (SBP) is over 130 mmHg.
Is there evidence to support treating patients without cardiovascular diseases with nonpharmacologic therapy if their SBP is over 130 mmHg or DBP is over 80 mmHg?
The data to support such treatment is limited.
Are the blood pressure goals different for patients with hypertension who also have diabetes or chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
No, the same goals are recommended for these patients as for the general hypertension population.
Which medications are effective for non-black hypertension patients, including those with diabetes?
ACE inhibitors (ACE-Is), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and thiazide diuretics.
What is recommended for initial antihypertensive therapy in black adults without heart failure or chronic kidney disease, including those with diabetes?
Moderate evidence supports the use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) or thiazide diuretics.
For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), what does moderate evidence suggest for antihypertensive therapy?
It supports the use of ACE inhibitors (ACE-Is) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to improve kidney outcomes.
Notably absent from 1st line therapy are ________________, which are reserved for pts w/ CAD or tachydysrhythmia, or as a component of multidrug tx in resistant HTN
β blockers
15 different drug classes have been approved for HTN
What can complicate preoperative blood pressure assessment?
Anxiety can lead to white-coat hypertension, affecting the accuracy of preoperative blood pressure assessment.
What is often instructed regarding antihypertensive medications on the day of surgery?
Patients are often instructed to pause blood pressure medications, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics, on the day of surgery.
Why might assessing blood pressure at a single moment be misleading?
A single blood pressure measurement does not provide an accurate picture of overall blood pressure trends.
What do current guidelines state about the diagnosis of hypertension?
Multiple elevated blood pressure readings over time are necessary to diagnose hypertension.
What should be done if a patient has elevated blood pressure preoperatively?
If blood pressure is elevated, a measurement should be taken on the contralateral arm for confirmation.
How can a comprehensive picture of a patient’s cardiovascular health be obtained?
By reviewing clinic data, home blood pressure readings, and a thorough patient history.
Should surgery be delayed for asymptomatic patients with elevated blood pressure but no risk factors?
Elevated blood pressure is not a direct indication to delay surgery in asymptomatic patients without risk factors.
When should surgery be considered for delay in patients with hypertension?
Surgery should not be delayed due to transient hypertension, unless the patient has extreme hypertension (SBP >180 or DBP >110) or evidence of end-organ injury that could be reversed with blood pressure control.
What symptoms may suggest a pheochromocytoma as the cause of secondary hypertension?
Flushing, sweating, and palpitations.
What clinical sign might suggest renal artery stenosis in a patient with hypertension?
A renal bruit.
What laboratory finding might suggest hyperaldosteronism in a hypertensive patient?
Hypokalemia.
Once the decision is made to proceed with surgery, which antihypertensive medications might be paused?
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors (ACE-Is) might be excluded.
What is the risk associated with stopping beta-blockers (BBs) or clonidine abruptly before surgery?
Stopping these medications can be associated with rebound hypertension.
What is the risk associated with discontinuing calcium channel blockers (CCBs) preoperatively?
Stopping CCBs is associated with an increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular events.