Pathway
Pathway Diagram
Teaching Points
Teaching Points
- Indications that warrant further investigation of hypertensive patients 2,3
- Young patients
- Labile or severe hypertension
- Treatment resistant or refractory hypertension
- Abrupt acceleration of stable hypertension
- Biochemical abnormalities
- Renal dysfunction
- History of renal disease
- Other associated symptoms
- If any of the above are present, consider secondary causes of hypertension and investigate as required
indicat
Further Investigation of Hypertension
- Hypertension is defined as resting blood pressure of greater than 140/90mmHg. It is estimated to affect around 30% of the Australian population 1
- In the majority of cases, there is no clear aetiology (i.e. essential hypertension). However, in 5-10% of cases, the hypertension is due to a definable and often treatable cause (i.e. secondary hypertension) 2,3
- Indications that warrant further investigation of hypertensive patients 2,3
- Young patients
- Labile or severe hypertension
- Treatment resistant or refractory hypertension
- Abrupt acceleration of stable hypertension
- Biochemical abnormalities (e.g. hypokalaemia, hypercalcaemia, elevated creatinine)
- Renal dysfunction
- History of renal disease
- Other associated symptoms (e.g. heat or cold intolerance, tachycardia, palpitations, headaches, central obesity, purple straie, daytime somlenence, abdominal bruits)
- If any of the above are present, consider secondary causes of hypertension and investigate as required
References
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. High blood pressure. [document on the Internet]. 2011 [cited 2011 May 23]. View the reference
- Viera AJ, Neutze DM. Diagnosis of secondary hypertension: an age-based approach. Am Fam Physician. 2010;82(12):1471-8. (Review article)
- Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC, Green LA, Izzo JL Jr et al. Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee. Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension. 2003;42(6):1206-52. (Guideline)
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