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Resistant Hypertension Management: Comparison of the 2017 American and 2018 European High Blood Pressure Guidelines

  • Resistant Hypertension (L Drager, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To compare European and American guidelines for the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of resistant hypertension.

Recent Findings

Resistant hypertension is defined as high blood pressure that remains above goal with the use of 3 or more antihypertensive agents, commonly a renin-angiotensin blocker (either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker), a long-acting calcium channel blocker, and thiazide or thiazide-like diuretic. Resistant hypertension is common, with a recent analysis indicating that it affects approximately 17–19% of adult Americans with hypertension. Pseudocauses of apparent resistant hypertension, including inaccurate blood pressure measurement, white coat effect, undertreatment, and poor medication adherence, must be excluded in order to confirm true resistant hypertension. Evaluation of resistant hypertension requires identifying and treating secondary causes of hypertension, including obstructive sleep apnea, primary aldosteronism, and renal artery stenosis. Treatment of resistant hypertension includes a combined use of lifestyle modification and prescription of effective multiple-drug combinations. Preferential use of a long-acting thiazide-like diuretic, either chlorthalidone or indapamide, and a mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, most commonly spironolactone, is recommended if needed to achieve blood pressure control.

Summary

Aside for small exceptions, European and American guidelines agree in terms of recommendations for diagnosing, evaluating, and treating resistant hypertension.

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Funding

David Calhoun’s research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01 HL113004) and the American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network (AHA 5SFRN2390002). Robert M. Carey’s research is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01 HL 128189 and P01 HL 074940).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Clinica Medica, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Guido Grassi & Giuseppe Mancia

  2. Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    David A. Calhoun

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 801414, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-1414, USA

    Robert M. Carey

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  1. Guido Grassi
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  2. David A. Calhoun
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  3. Giuseppe Mancia
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Correspondence to Robert M. Carey.

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Grassi, G., Calhoun, D.A., Mancia, G. et al. Resistant Hypertension Management: Comparison of the 2017 American and 2018 European High Blood Pressure Guidelines. Curr Hypertens Rep 21, 67 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-019-0974-3

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