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Review
. 2022 Jul;24(7):801-805.
doi: 10.1007/s11886-022-01699-0. Epub 2022 May 7.

Treatment of Hypertension Among Non-Cardiac Hospitalized Patients

Bhanu Chaganti  1 , Richard A Lange  2
Affiliations
Review

Treatment of Hypertension Among Non-Cardiac Hospitalized Patients

Bhanu Chaganti et al. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review provides a contemporary perspective and approach for the treatment of hypertension (HTN) among patients hospitalized for non-cardiac reasons.

Recent findings: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a common dilemma encountered by physicians, but guidelines are lacking to assist providers in managing hospitalized patients with elevated BP. Inpatient HTN is common, and management remains challenging given the paucity of data and misperceptions among training and practicing physicians. The outcomes associated with intensifying BP treatment during hospitalization can be harmful, with little to no long-term benefits. Data also suggests that medication intensification at discharge is not associated with improved outpatient BP control. Routine inpatient HTN control in the absence of end-organ damage has not shown to be helpful and may have deleterious effects. Since routine use of intravenous antihypertensives in hospitalized non-cardiac patients has been shown to prolong inpatient stay without benefits, their routine use should be avoided for inpatient HTN control. Future large-scale trials measuring clinical outcomes during prolonged follow-up may help to identify specific circumstances where inpatient HTN control may be beneficial.

Keywords: Hypertension; Inpatient HTN; Management; Non-cardiac Admissions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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