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Asymptomatic elevations in blood pressure (BP) are common among hospitalized patients. Although clear evidence-based recommendations exist for treating hypertension in outpatients, guidelines for managing inpatients are lacking. Previous studies have provided no evidence to support use of intravenous (IV) antihypertensive medications in these patients and have suggested potential harm if BP is lowered too rapidly.
In one single-center cohort study from San Francisco, investigators conducted a 10-month evaluation of >2000 hospitalized adults, including intensive care unit (ICU) patients, who had at least one episode of asymptomatic elevated BP (>160/90 mm Hg). During this period, episodes of elevated BP occurred an average of nine times per h…