Medicus, Vol. 12 No. 1_ Kardiologija, 2003.
Review article
Modern Principles in the Diagnostics and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension
Bojan Jelaković
Tajana Željković
Mario Laganović
Duško Kuzmanić
Abstract
Arterial hypertension (AH) and its complications
are the most frequent reason of patients' visits to general
practitioners. Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and premature
CV mortality are still increasing in Croatia. One of the
most important causes is inadequate blood pressure control.
Recent epidemiological data show that hypertension prevalence
in Europe is higher than ten years ago and approximately
50% of population aged over 35 have blood pressure
above 140/90 mmHg. It is obligatory to find an optimal
approach in diagnostic algorithm - the one, which would not
burden the budget, but which would be sensitive enough to
detect secondary forms of hypertension and target organ damage.
The total CV risk should be calculated in both hypertensive
patients and persons with high normal blood pressure
(pre-hypertensive persons). The approach to each person or
patient should be individual. The treatment of hypertensive
patients does not consist only of stressing the change of
lifestyle and continuous taking of antihypertensive drugs in
prescribed doses or combinations. Apart from the patient,
who has to be an active participant in the treatment procedure,
the physicians must also follow recent achievements.
The success in the battle against hypertension, CV morbidity
and premature CV mortality depends also on the involvement
of the whole society and requires support of governmental
institutions.
Keywords
blood pressure; arterial hypertension; epidemiology; diagnosis; treatment
Hrčak ID:
20509
URI
Publication date:
27.1.2003.
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