Treating hypertension
The Heart Foundation has two tools to help health professionals treat people with hypertension.
These tools are based on the “Guide to management of hypertension 2008” (updated August 2009).
One is a hypertension treatment wall chart, which guides assessment of absolute cardiovascular risk and provides information about drug treatment and treatment targets. For a print copy, contact the Heart Foundation’s Health Information Service on 1300 362 787.
The second is a “Guide to management of hypertension 2008” slideshow, which summarises the current best practice in the diagnosis, management and follow-up of people with hypertension.
The Guide addresses the latest evidence and recommendations from international guidelines, and includes revised treatment targets for various patient populations.
For all major antihypertensive drug classes, the beneficial effect is due mainly to BP lowering, irrespective of their mechanism of action. In uncomplicated hypertension, the following classes of antihypertensive agents are equally effective for first-line use, both in initial and maintenance therapy:
• ACE inhibitors (or angiotensin II receptor antagonists)
• dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers
• low-dose thiazide diuretics (for patients aged 65 years and older).
Less than 50% of people achieve satisfactory blood pressure control using monotherapy, hence combination drug therapy will often be required to reach targets. Even if targets are not met, patients are likely to benefit from any BP reduction achieved.
The Heart Foundation offers numerous strategies for maximising adherence to the management plan.
Heart Foundation: www.heartfoundation.org.au, 1300 362 787
National Prescribing Service: www.nps.org.au, 1300 138 677