Week 3/4 - A - Hypertension - Diagnosis/Stages/Monitoring - Clinic BP/A.B.P.M/H.B.P.M, A.C.E.I/A.R.B/C.C.B/Thiazide, a/b blocker) Flashcards
What is hypertension defined as?
Hypertension is defined as a raised blood prssure >/= 140/90 mmHg
What is the most common type of hypertension? What causes the other type?
Primary hypertension or essential hypertension accounts for the majority of cases - cause is unkown but there are risk factors Other type is secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension causes include * Renal disease * Endocrine disease * Others What are renal causes of hypertension?
Renal disease * Eg renal artery stensois * Glomerululonephritis * Polycystic kidneys
Where are different endocrine causes of secondary hypertension eg * Phaeochromocytoma * Conn’s syndrome * Cushing’s syndrome What happens in these?
Phaeochromcytoma - tumours producing excess adrenaline - leads to vasoconstriction via alpha-1 adrenoreceptors Conn’s syndrome - excess production of aldosterone - causing increase Na+ and Water retention Cushing’s syndrome - excess corticosteroid release - causes increased BP (can’t remember pathway)
Hypertension is defined as a blood pressure >/= 140/90 mmHg What may cause this however is only due to the BP being measured in the clinic? How is this identified?
If clinic BP greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg, then ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be carried out (if ABPM cannot be carried out, then do HBPM) This is due to some patient’s experiencing white coat syndrome - where the clinic BP is raised but the blood pressure outside of the clinic is actually normal * Therefore clinic BP >/= 140/90 * however ABPM (or HBPM)
What is the opposite of white coat hypertension?
The opposite of white coat hypertension is masked hypertension - * where the clinical reading shows a normotensive patient (BP /=135/85 * unsure of reason - more common in smokers/drinkers
How are both ABPM and HBPM carrid out?
ABPM - device records BP * at least two blood pressure measurements are taken per hour during the person’s normal waking hours * Use the average of at least 14 measurements HBPM - self recorded BP (use if ABPM unsuitable) * BP recorded twice per day (morning/night) and each recording is carried out twice, when seated and one minute apart. Record for 4-7 days * First day measurement discarded, take average of remaining results
What is stage 1,2 and 3 hypertension?
Stage 1 hypertension * Clinic BP >/=140/90 AND * ABPM or HBPM >/=135/85 Stage 2 hypertension * Clinic BP >160/100 AND * ABPM or HBPM >/=150/95 Stage 3 hypertension * Clinic systolic BP is 180 mmHg or higher OR * Clinic diastolic BP is 120 mmHg or higher.
Hypertension is usually asymptomatic and is diagnosed on routine screening However, in patients with malignant (aka accelerated) hypertension, symptoms can persist What is malignant (or accelerated) hypertension?
Accelerated (or malignant) hypertension is a severe increase in blood pressure to 180/120 mmHg or higher (and often over 220/120 mmHg) leading to vascular damage - there are signs of retinal haemorrhages +/- papilloedema (swelling of the optic nerve)
What are the symptoms seen in hypertension? What do the blood vessels show if biopsied in malignant hyeprtension?
Symptoms seen in mmalignant hypertension include * Headache * Visual disturbance * Cerebral infactions common * Also heart failure Fibrinod necrosis is seen in vessels (arterioles)
What tests are offered to all patients with hypertension to assess for end-organ damage?
Urine analysis - looking for protein or blood - kidney damage Fasting glucose - evidence of diabetes U&Es - help to exclude other causes usch as Conn’s 12 lead ECG - LV hypertrophy, past MI Examine fundi for hypertensive retinopathy
Lifestyle advice should be given to all patients with hypertension regardless of the stage What lifestyle advice can be given to help reduce hypertension?
Stop smoking Low fat diet (increases unsaturated fats, decrease saturated) Reduce alcohol and salt intake Increase exercise and reduce weight if obese
When should treatments with drugs be initiated in a patient with hypertension?
Treatment with drugs for hypertension should begin if Stage 2 hypertension * Clinic BP >/=160/100 AND ABPM/HBPM >/=150/95 Treat if stage 3 hypertension * Clinic BP >/=180/120
When is treatment started in patients with stage 1 hypertension? When are statins started for primary prevention against cardiovascular disease?
If there is end (target) organ damage or the patient has a calculated 10-year cardiovascular risk 10%, start antihypertensive drug treatment Offer atorvastatin 20 mg a day (unless contraindicated) for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) to people with an estimated CVD risk of 10% or more
It is important to monitor response to lifestyle changes or drug treatment in people with hypertension What are the BP targets? * Clinic BP targets * ABPM/HBPM targets for those identified whit white-coat or masked hypertension
Clinic BP targets Aim for BP <140/90 in people aged under 80 Aim for BP <150/90 in people aged 80 and over ABPM/HBPM targets Aim for BP <135/85 in people aged under 80 Aim for BP <145/85 in people aged 80 and over Ie in patients under 80, want them to be less than stage 1