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Management of elevated blood pressure (BP) in hospitalized patients varies widely. In this systematic review of 14 clinical practice guidelines on BP management in adults, researchers examined whether (and how) these guidelines addressed managing hypertension in hospitalized patients, with particular attention to hypertensive urgencies or emergencies. Findings were as follows:
No guideline recommended specific BP targets or provided goals for managing asymptomatic moderately elevated BP in hospitalized patients.
Hypertensive emergency (i.e., BP >180/120 mm Hg with end-organ damage) recommendations consistently included use of intravenous antihypertensive agents in intensive care settings.
Recommendations for managing hypertensive urgency (i.e.…