April 2021 Tip of the Month

History should include a full assessment for personal and family history of risk factors for CVD, current symptoms, medications or substances and lifestyles that can contribute to elevated blood pressure.

This month we focus on risk assessment in hypertensive patients. History should include a full assessment for personal and family history of risk factors for CVD, current symptoms, medications or substances and lifestyles that can contribute to elevated blood pressure.

More than 50% of hypertensive patients have additional CVD risk factors.

The most common additional risk factors are:

Diabetes
Lipid disorders (elevated LDL-C and trigylcerides)
Overweight-obesity
Metabolic syndrome
Hyperuriciemia
Peripheral arterial disease, CVA including Lacunar infarcts
Smoking
High alcohol intake
Sedentary lifestyle

The presence of one or more additional CVD risk factors proportionally increases the risk of coronary, cerebrovascular, and renal diseases in hypertensive patients.

Back to all Condition Management Tips of the Month