Heslop, Ian (2008) Hypertension. Australian Pharmacist, 27 (7). pp. 572-578.

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Abstract

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Hypertension is known to be a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, heart failure, renal disease and stroke and studies have demonstrated that approximately 20% of the world's population may be affected. In Australia, like other westernised countries, the prevalence of hypertension is higher, with estimates suggesting that 29% of the Australian population is affected and 15% being untreated. In future years, the worldwide incidence of hypertension is expected to increase, due mainly to the effects of an increasingly ageing population and also the westernisation of lifestyles in developing countries. It is assumed that this adopted 'westernised lifestyle' will encourage associated increases in obesity, reduced physical exercise and increased dietary salt intake in those countries. For many years the diagnosis and management of hypertension has been an important issue for primary healthcare providers, as it is a known modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the associated morbidity, mortality and economic burden of those diseases. It is also recognised that hypertension is often poorly or under treated, and that compliance and persistence with antihypertensive medication is often poor. Over the past two decades there have been regular reviews and revisions of the management guidelines for this condition with most recent discussions centring around a reappraisal of the role of beta blockers. New National Heart Foundation of Australia (NHF) guidelinas for the management of hypertension have recently been released, as have National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines in the UK. This article is a brief review of the current management guidelines for hypertension with a discussion of the reasoning behind the recent changes.

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