Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Hypertension Treatment Guidelines
Reducing blood pressure is the major determinant of reduction in cardiovascular risk in both young and older patients with hypertension.
Per the new hypertension guidelines, the following are the first-line treatment options for patients with this condition.
- Thiazide diuretics
- Calcium channel blockers
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- Angiotensin receptor blockers
Explanation:
Each of the above classifications of the antihypertensive drug therapies is almost equally effective in lowering the blood pressure
Some patients respond to one drug better than the other
The 2017 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association statement on hypertension concluded that reducing blood pressure is the major determinant of reduction in cardiovascular risk in both young and older patients with hypertension.
Reference: Choice of drug therapy in primary (essential) hypertension - UpToDate
