Management of Elevated Blood Pressure in the Acute Care Setting
Published: May 28, 2024
- There is an abundance of high-quality evidence available for the diagnosis and management of elevated blood pressure (BP) in the outpatient setting, but despite the high prevalence of elevated blood pressure in the acute care setting (emergency department (ED) and hospital inpatient), there is a lack of comparable evidence to guide patient care.
- Elevated blood pressure is common in the acute care setting and can appear as asymptomatic or with new or worsening target organ damage.
- This scientific statement aims to synthesize the available evidence, provide suggestions for best practice, identify gaps in managing elevated inpatient BP, and highlight areas needing further research.
Video: Management of Elevated Blood Pressure in the Acute Care Setting
Authors Adam P. Bress, PharmD, MS and Tara I. Chang, MD, MS discuss the new AHA scientific statement on managing elevated blood pressure in the acute care setting. They stress the cautious use of antihypertensive medications, especially intravenous types, and emphasize the importance of individualized care and consideration of social determinants of health. Key takeaways include a focus on precise measurement and a judicious approach to medication, alongside the need for improved post-discharge care and monitoring.
Recommended Reading
- Implementation Strategies to Improve Blood Pressure Control in the United States
- Medication Adherence and Blood Pressure Control
- Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Children and Adolescents: 2022 Update
- Measurement of Blood Pressure in Humans
- Physical Activity as a Critical Component of First-Line Treatment for Elevated Blood Pressure or Cholesterol: Who, What, and How?
- Hypertension in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Blood Pressure Goals, and Pharmacotherapy
- 2017 Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults