Resistant hypertension: diagnostic points and contemporary treatment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52692/1857-0011.2025.1-81.12Keywords:
resistant hypertension, renal denervationAbstract
Hypertension remains the leading cardiovascular risk worldwide. The most recent World Health Organization (WHO) Global Report on Hypertension indicated that the number of hypertensive patients has almost doubled in the last three decades, with an annual increase in deaths, disability and related costs. It is also important to note that an increasing number of hypertensive patients, despite the use of three or more drugs, do not achieve normalization of blood pressure, thus defining the clinical scenario of resistant hypertension. To confirm the presence of resistant hypertension, various causes of pseudo-resistant hypertension and secondary hypertension must be excluded. Inadequate blood pressure control should be confirmed by measuring blood pressure outside the doctor’s office. Resistant hypertension affects approximately 5% of the hypertensive population and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Management includes lifestyle interventions and optimization of current drug therapy. Additional drugs should be introduced sequentially if BP remains uncontrolled, and renal denervation may be considered as an additional treatment option. However, achieving optimal blood pressure control remains a challenge in this setting. The data presented are part of the literature review/ results obtained within the institutional project with the acronym DIAFEREZIS.
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