Essential Hypertension

Cardiology

Persistent BP ≥140/90 (office) with no identifiable cause.

Risk factors

  • Age, obesity, salt intake, alcohol, family history

Investigations

  • ABPM/HBPM to confirm
  • U&E, glucose, lipids, urinalysis (ACR)
  • 12-lead ECG for LVH
  • Fundoscopy

Management

  • Lifestyle: DASH diet, salt <5 g, exercise, weight, alcohol <14 units/wk
  • Step 1: ACEi/ARB (<55 y non-black) or CCB (≥55 or black African)
  • Step 2: add other class
  • Step 3: add thiazide-like diuretic
  • Step 4: add spironolactone (if K ≤4.5) or α/β-blocker

Drug therapy

  • Target: <140/90 (<130/80 if diabetic or CKD with albuminuria)
  • SPRINT: <120 SBP in high-risk

Complications

  • Stroke, MI, HF, CKD, retinopathy

References

  • ESC 2023 HTN
  • NICE NG136 2019

Related in WardRound

Educational — verify locally.

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