treatment options for hypertension in high-risk patients

Wei-Chuan TsaiDepartment of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, TaiwanAbstract: Patients are considered to be at high risk of cardiovascular events if they have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, stroke, established coronary artery disease, or a coronary artery disease equivalent. Blood pressure-lowering therapy has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in these patients significantly. Identification of high-risk patients by global risk evaluation is recommended for every hypertensive patient. Treatment of hypertension in high-risk patients with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor antagonist, with or without addition of a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, is a reasonable approach based on current clinical trials.Keywords: hypertension, high-risk, antihypertensive agent