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michigan hypertension core curriculum - State of Michigan

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4. Cardiovascular-Renal Complications <strong>of</strong> Hypertension<br />

Table 2 displays BP sensitive target organs. That is, these are the organs that clinically manifest<br />

dysfunction and/or anatomic changes that can be detected clinically. Yet, with prevention <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypertension</strong><br />

or, once <strong>hypertension</strong> develops, control <strong>of</strong> BP, pressure-related dysfunction <strong>of</strong> these organs is either<br />

preventable or, alternatively, can be forestalled.<br />

Table 2. Blood Pressure Target Organs<br />

Elevated BP, particularly SBP, is associated with multiple microvascular (eg, retinopathy, nephropathy) and<br />

macrovascular (eg, myocardial infarction, atherothrombotic stroke) cardiovascular-renal complications.<br />

Target-organ dysfunction, such as left ventricular systolic dysfunction (systolic and/or diastolic heart failure),<br />

can occur because <strong>of</strong> micro- and macro-vascular disease/dysfunction resulting in chronic ischemia <strong>of</strong> the<br />

myocardium. In addition to these organ-specific complications, <strong>hypertension</strong> causes premature morbidity<br />

and mortality. Though persons without <strong>hypertension</strong> can experience these complications, on average,<br />

persons with <strong>hypertension</strong> experience them relatively prematurely; hypertensives also are at higher overall<br />

risk for these complications than normotensive persons. The risk for virtually all cardiovascular-renal<br />

complications can be reduced with effective antihypertensive treatment. It is, however, important to note<br />

that the risk for pressure-related cardiovascular-renal complications at BP levels well below <strong>hypertension</strong><br />

diagnosis thresholds. Risk approximately doubles for each 20/10 mm Hg higher BP above the level <strong>of</strong><br />

115/75 mm Hg.<br />

5. Clinical Detection <strong>of</strong> Pressure-Related Target Organ Injury<br />

It is not infrequent that clinicians encounter patients in whom they do not have prior medical<br />

records that document important historical trends in BP. Patients are also <strong>of</strong>ten unaware <strong>of</strong> their prior<br />

level <strong>of</strong> BP control. Nevertheless, there are relatively easily detectable clues to the prior level <strong>of</strong> BP<br />

control. Documentation <strong>of</strong> any or all <strong>of</strong> the findings in table 3 would suggest that BP control has been<br />

less than optimal.<br />

NKFM & MDCH 29

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