Blood pressure treatment and outcomes in hypertensive patients without acute target organ damage: a retrospective cohort.
Recommended Citation
Levy PD, Mahn JJ, Miller J, Shelby A, Brody A, Davidson R, Burla MJ, Marinica A, Carroll J, Purakal J, Flack JM, and Welch RD. Blood pressure treatment and outcomes in hypertensive patients without acute target organ damage: a retrospective cohort. Am J Emerg Med 2015.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2015
Publication Title
The American journal of emergency medicine
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective is of the study to evaluate the effect of antihypertensive therapy in emergency department (ED) patients with markedly elevated blood pressure (BP) but no signs/symptoms of acute target organ damage (TOD).
METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of ED patients age 18 years and older with an initial BP greater than or equal to 180/100 mm Hg and no acute TOD, who were discharged with a primary diagnosis of hypertension. Patients were divided based on receipt of antihypertensive therapy and outcomes (ED revisits and mortality) and were compared.
RESULTS: Of 1016 patients, 435 (42.8%) received antihypertensive therapy, primarily (88.5%) oral clonidine. Average age was 49.2 years, and 94.5% were African American. Treated patients more often had a history of hypertension (93.1% vs 84.3%; difference = -8.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], -12.5 to -4.9) and had higher mean initial systolic (202 vs 185 mm Hg; difference = 16.9; 95% CI, -19.7 to -14.1) and diastolic (115 vs 106 mm Hg; difference = -8.6; 95% CI, -10.3 to -6.9) BP. Emergency department revisits at 24 hours (4.4% vs 2.4%; difference = -2.0; 95% CI, -4.5 to 0.3) and 30 days (18.9% vs 15.2%; difference = -3.7; 95% CI, -8.5 to 0.9) and mortality at 30 days (0.2% vs 0.2%; difference = 0; 95% CI, -1.1 to 0.8) and 1 year (2.1% vs 1.6%; difference = -0.5; 95% CI, -2.5 to 1.2) were similar.
CONCLUSIONS: Revisits and mortality were similar for ED patients with markedly elevated BP but no acute TOD, whether they were treated with antihypertensive therapy, suggesting relative safety with either approach.
Medical Subject Headings
Acute Disease; Adult; Antihypertensive Agents; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed ID
26087706
Volume
33
Issue
9
First Page
1219
Last Page
1224
