Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care
OBJECTIVE: In primary care the management of patients with acute severely elevated blood pressure (BP) is challenging. The aim of the study was to evaluate the initial management and outcome of patients presenting to their general practitioner (GP) with severe high blood pressure. ME...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Swiss Medical Weekly |
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| Online Access: | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1414 |
| _version_ | 1811288497481318400 |
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| author | Christoph Merlo Klaus Bally Benedict Martina Peter Tschudi Andreas Zeller |
| author_facet | Christoph Merlo Klaus Bally Benedict Martina Peter Tschudi Andreas Zeller |
| author_sort | Christoph Merlo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
OBJECTIVE: In primary care the management of patients with acute severely elevated blood pressure (BP) is challenging. The aim of the study was to evaluate the initial management and outcome of patients presenting to their general practitioner (GP) with severe high blood pressure.
METHODS: Twenty five general practitioners prospectively identified 164 patients presenting with severely elevated blood pressure (systolic BP >180 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >110 mm Hg). At baseline, patients were categorised as having a hypertensive emergency, urgency or asymptomatic BP elevation. The therapeutic approach of the GPs was assessed and patient outcome at 12 month follow-up was analysed.
RESULTS: Median age of 164 patents was 71 (range 22 to 97) years, 60 (37%) were male and 107 (65%) had pre-existing hypertension. Mean baseline systolic BP was 198 ± 16 (range 145 to 255) mm Hg, mean baseline diastolic BP was 101 ± 15 (range 60 to 130). In total, 99 (60%) of patients had asymptomatic BP elevation, 50 (31%) had hypertensive urgency, and 15 (9%) had a hypertensive emergency. Only around two thirds (61%) of patients were given immediate blood pressure lowering medication (most frequently calcium antagonists). Ten patients (6%) were immediately admitted to hospital. Systolic and diastolic BP declined significantly (p <0.01) between one and six hours after study inclusion (drop of systolic and diastolic BP, 24 ± 9 and 10 ± 1, respectively) and were significantly lower (p <0.01) at three month follow-up compared to the initial measurement (drop of systolic and diastolic BP, 37 ± 6 and 14 ± 4, respectively). On average systolic BP was still above target values after three months (148 ± 21). During 12 months of follow-up patients with hypertensive emergency, hypertensive urgency, and asymptomatic BP elevation experienced a cardiovascular event in 27% vs. 6% vs. 16%, of cases respectively (p = 0.17).
CONCLUSION: The majority of 164 patients who presented with acutely and severely elevated blood pressure (BP >180 +/or >110 mm Hg) to their GPs was asymptomatic, had pre-existing hypertension and was managed in GP’s office unless a hypertensive emergency was present. At three month follow-up mean systolic BP was still above target values.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:38:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6adb51c3528949ab81e022a3ba530c1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-3997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:38:07Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| spelling | doaj.art-6adb51c3528949ab81e022a3ba530c1f2022-12-22T03:04:17ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972012-01-01142030410.4414/smw.2012.13507Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary careChristoph MerloKlaus BallyBenedict MartinaPeter TschudiAndreas Zeller OBJECTIVE: In primary care the management of patients with acute severely elevated blood pressure (BP) is challenging. The aim of the study was to evaluate the initial management and outcome of patients presenting to their general practitioner (GP) with severe high blood pressure. METHODS: Twenty five general practitioners prospectively identified 164 patients presenting with severely elevated blood pressure (systolic BP >180 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >110 mm Hg). At baseline, patients were categorised as having a hypertensive emergency, urgency or asymptomatic BP elevation. The therapeutic approach of the GPs was assessed and patient outcome at 12 month follow-up was analysed. RESULTS: Median age of 164 patents was 71 (range 22 to 97) years, 60 (37%) were male and 107 (65%) had pre-existing hypertension. Mean baseline systolic BP was 198 ± 16 (range 145 to 255) mm Hg, mean baseline diastolic BP was 101 ± 15 (range 60 to 130). In total, 99 (60%) of patients had asymptomatic BP elevation, 50 (31%) had hypertensive urgency, and 15 (9%) had a hypertensive emergency. Only around two thirds (61%) of patients were given immediate blood pressure lowering medication (most frequently calcium antagonists). Ten patients (6%) were immediately admitted to hospital. Systolic and diastolic BP declined significantly (p <0.01) between one and six hours after study inclusion (drop of systolic and diastolic BP, 24 ± 9 and 10 ± 1, respectively) and were significantly lower (p <0.01) at three month follow-up compared to the initial measurement (drop of systolic and diastolic BP, 37 ± 6 and 14 ± 4, respectively). On average systolic BP was still above target values after three months (148 ± 21). During 12 months of follow-up patients with hypertensive emergency, hypertensive urgency, and asymptomatic BP elevation experienced a cardiovascular event in 27% vs. 6% vs. 16%, of cases respectively (p = 0.17). CONCLUSION: The majority of 164 patients who presented with acutely and severely elevated blood pressure (BP >180 +/or >110 mm Hg) to their GPs was asymptomatic, had pre-existing hypertension and was managed in GP’s office unless a hypertensive emergency was present. At three month follow-up mean systolic BP was still above target values. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1414general practiceHypertensionhypertensive crisisoutcome assessmentprimary health care |
| spellingShingle | Christoph Merlo Klaus Bally Benedict Martina Peter Tschudi Andreas Zeller Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care Swiss Medical Weekly general practice Hypertension hypertensive crisis outcome assessment primary health care |
| title | Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care |
| title_full | Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care |
| title_fullStr | Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care |
| title_short | Management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care |
| title_sort | management and outcome of severely elevated blood pressure in primary care |
| topic | general practice Hypertension hypertensive crisis outcome assessment primary health care |
| url | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1414 |
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