Managing Elevated Blood Pressure in the Hospital

For the first time, a professional organization offers guidance for managing asymptomatic elevated BP in the hospital and at discharge.

Sponsoring Organization: American Heart Association (AHA)

Background

Recent evidence suggests that asymptomatic patients with elevated blood pressure (BP) in the hospital are at risk for adverse outcomes with use of parenteral antihypertensive agents or up-titration of oral agents during the inpatient stay. Previous clinical practice guidelines for hypertension lacked guidance for these patients (NEJM JW Gen Med May 1 2024 and Ann Intern Med 2024; 177:497). The AHA now has issued the first set of recommendations for managing elevated BP in the inpatient setting (including emergency departments, intensive care units [ICUs], and non-ICU locations), incorporating the most relevant recent study data.

Key Recommendations

Hypertensive emergency

Define…

Reviewing Author

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, MHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)