Hypertension: Hemmelgarn BR

Padwal RS, Hemmelgarn BR, Khan NA, Grover S, McKay DW, Wilson T, Penner B, Burgess E, McAlister FA, Bolli P, Hill MD, Mahon J, Myers MG, Abbott C, Schiffrin EL, Honos G, Mann K, Tremblay G, Milot A, Cloutier L, Chockalingam A, Rabkin SW, Dawes M, Touyz RM, Bell C, Burns KD, Ruzicka M, Campbell NR, Vallée M, Prasad R, Lebel M, Tobe SW, Anonymous00149. · Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. · Can J Cardiol. · Pubmed #19417858 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To provide updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and assessment of adults with hypertension. OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The diagnosis of hypertension is dependent on appropriate blood pressure measurement, the timely assessment of serially elevated readings, the degree of blood pressure elevation, the method of measurement (office, ambulatory, home) and associated comorbidities. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage should be ascertained to assess global cardiovascular risk and determine the urgency, intensity and type of treatment required. EVIDENCE: MEDLINE searches were conducted from November 2007 to October 2008 with the aid of a medical librarian. Reference lists were scanned, experts were contacted, and the personal files of authors and subgroup members were used to identify additional studies. Content and methodological experts assessed studies using prespecified, standardized evidence-based algorithms. Recommendations were based on evidence from peer-reviewed full-text articles only. RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendations for blood pressure measurement, criteria for hypertension diagnosis and follow-up, assessment of global cardiovascular risk, diagnostic testing, diagnosis of renovascular and endocrine causes of hypertension, home and ambulatory monitoring, and the use of echocardiography in hypertensive individuals are outlined. Key messages include continued emphasis on the expedited, accurate diagnosis of hypertension, the importance of global risk assessment and the need for ongoing monitoring of hypertensive patients to identify incident type 2 diabetes. VALIDATION: All recommendations were graded according to strength of the evidence and voted on by the 57 members of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program Evidence-Based Recommendations Task Force. All recommendations were required to be supported by at least 70% of task force members. These guidelines will continue to be updated annually.

Padwal RS, Hemmelgarn BR, McAlister FA, McKay DW, Grover S, Wilson T, Penner B, Burgess E, Bolli P, Hill M, Mahon J, Myers MG, Abbott C, Schiffrin EL, Honos G, Mann K, Tremblay G, Milot A, Cloutier L, Chockalingam A, Khan NA, Rabkin SW, Dawes M, Touyz RM, Tobe SW, Anonymous00038. · Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. · Can J Cardiol. · Pubmed #17534459 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To provide updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and assessment of adults with hypertension. OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The diagnosis of hypertension is dependent on the appropriate measurement of blood pressure, the timely assessment of serially elevated readings, the degree of blood pressure elevation, the method of measurement (office, ambulatory, home) and any associated comorbidities. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage should be ascertained to assess global cardiovascular risk, and to determine the urgency, intensity and type of treatment required. EVIDENCE: MEDLINE searches were conducted from November 2005 to October 2006 with the aid of a medical librarian. Reference lists were scanned, experts were contacted, and the personal files of authors and subgroup members were used to identify additional studies. Content and methodological experts assessed studies using prespecified, standardized evidence-based algorithms. Recommendations were based on evidence from peer-reviewed, full-text articles only. RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendations for blood pressure measurement, criteria for hypertension diagnosis and follow-up, assessment of global cardiovascular risk, diagnostic testing, diagnosis of renovascular and endocrine causes of hypertension, home and ambulatory monitoring, and the use of echocardiography in hypertensive individuals are outlined. Key messages in 2007 include continued emphasis on the expedited, accurate diagnosis of hypertension, the importance of assessing the risk of cerebrovascular events as part of global risk assessment, the need for ongoing reassessment of patients with high normal blood pressure, and reviews of recent studies involving laboratory testing and home monitoring. VALIDATION: All recommendations were graded according to strength of the evidence and were voted on by the 57 members of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program Evidence-Based Recommendations Task Force. All recommendations reported here received at least 70% consensus. These guidelines will continue to be updated annually.

Hemmelgarn BR, McAlister FA, Grover S, Myers MG, McKay DW, Bolli P, Abbott C, Schiffrin EL, Honos G, Burgess E, Mann K, Wilson T, Penner B, Tremblay G, Milot A, Chockalingam A, Touyz RM, Tobe SW, Anonymous00011. · Division of Nephrology, University of Calgary, and Foothills Hospital, 1403 29th Street Northwest, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. · Can J Cardiol. · Pubmed #16755312 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To provide updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and assessment of adults with high blood pressure. OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES: For persons in whom a high blood pressure value is recorded, a diagnosis of hypertension is dependent on the appropriate measurement of blood pressure, the level of the blood pressure elevation, the approach used to monitor blood pressure (office, ambulatory or home/self), and the duration of follow-up. In addition, the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage should be assessed to determine the urgency, intensity and type of treatment. For persons diagnosed as having hypertension, estimating the overall risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes requires an assessment for other vascular risk factors and hypertensive target organ damage. EVIDENCE: MEDLINE searches were conducted from November 2004 to October 2005 to update the 2005 recommendations. Reference lists were scanned, experts were polled, and the personal files of the authors and subgroup members were used to identify other studies. Identified articles were reviewed and appraised using prespecified levels of evidence by content and methodological experts. As per previous years, the authors only included studies that had been published in the peer-reviewed literature and did not include evidence from abstracts, conference presentations or unpublished personal communications. RECOMMENDATIONS: The present document contains recommendations for blood pressure measurement, diagnosis of hypertension, and assessment of cardiovascular risk for adults with high blood pressure. These include the accurate measurement of blood pressure, criteria for the diagnosis of hypertension and recommendations for follow-up, assessment of overall cardiovascular risk, routine and optional laboratory testing, assessment for renovascular and endocrine causes, home and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and the role of echocardiography for those with hypertension. Key features of the 2006 recommendations include continued emphasis on an expedited diagnosis of hypertension, an in-depth review of the role of global risk assessment in hypertension therapy, and the use of home/self blood pressure monitoring for patients with masked hypertension (subjects with hypertension who have a blood pressure that is normal in clinic but elevated on home/self measurement). VALIDATION: All recommendations were graded according to the strength of the evidence and were voted on by the 45 members of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program Evidence-Based Recommendations Task Force. All recommendations reported herein received at least 95% consensus. These guidelines will continue to be updated annually.

Myers MG, Tobe SW, McKay DW, Bolli P, Hemmelgarn BR, McAlister FA, Anonymous00046. · Division of Cardiology, Sunnybrook & Women's Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. · Am J Hypertens. · Pubmed #16202864 No free full text.

Abstract: Most national and international guidelines for diagnosing hypertension include 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and self (home) BP monitoring (SBPM) as optional methods for identifying hypertensive patients. However, none of the current guidelines have yet included ABPM or SBPM as fundamental tools for diagnosing hypertension, preferring instead to rely on conventional office readings recorded by mercury sphygmomanometry. During the past 10 years, clinical outcome studies have consistently reported 24-h ABPM and SBPM to be significantly better predictors of cardiovascular events compared with the office BP, even when recorded under "research conditions." Based on the available evidence, the Canadian Hypertension Education Program has now developed an algorithm for diagnosing hypertension that offers three options: 1) conventional office BP, 2) SBPM, or 3) 24-h ABPM. Out-of-office BP measurements are recommended, whenever feasible, to minimize both measurement error associated with mercury sphygmomanometry and the white coat effect experienced by some patients.

Hemmelgarn BR, McAllister FA, Myers MG, McKay DW, Bolli P, Abbott C, Schiffrin EL, Grover S, Honos G, Lebel M, Mann K, Wilson T, Penner B, Tremblay G, Tobe SW, Feldman RD, Anonymous00236. · Division of Nephrology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. · Can J Cardiol. · Pubmed #16003448 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To provide updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and assessment of adults with high blood pressure (BP). OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES: For persons in whom a high BP value is recorded, the assignment of a diagnosis of hypertension is dependent on the appropriate measurement of BP, the level of the BP elevation and the duration of follow-up. In addition, the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage should be assessed to determine the urgency, intensity and type of treatment. For persons diagnosed as having hypertension, estimating overall risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes requires an assessment of other vascular risk factors and hypertensive target organ damage. EVIDENCE: MEDLINE searches were conducted from November 2003 to October 2004 to update the 2004 recommendations. Reference lists were scanned, experts were polled, and the personal files of the authors and subgroup members were used to identify other studies. Identified articles were reviewed and appraised using prespecified levels of evidence by content and methodological experts. As per previous years, only studies that had been published in the peer-reviewed literature were included; evidence from abstracts, conference presentations and unpublished personal communications was not included. RECOMMENDATIONS: This document contains recommendations for BP measurement, diagnosis of hypertension and assessment of cardiovascular risk for adults with high BP. These include the accurate measurement of BP, criteria for diagnosis of hypertension, and recommendations for follow-up, assessment of overall cardiovascular risk, routine and optional laboratory testing, assessment for renovascular and endocrine causes, home and ambulatory BP monitoring, and the role of echocardiography for those with hypertension. Key features of the 2005 recommendations include an expedited diagnostic algorithm for hypertension and an endorsement of the use of home/self and ambulatory BP assessment as validated techniques in establishing the diagnosis of hypertension. VALIDATION: All recommendations were graded according to the strength of the evidence and voted on by the 43 members of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program Evidence-Based Recommendations Task Force. All recommendations reported in the present paper received at least 95% consensus. These guidelines will continue to be updated annually.

Hemmelgarn BR, Zarnke KB, Campbell NR, Feldman RD, McKay DW, McAlister FA, Khan N, Schiffrin EL, Myers MG, Bolli P, Honos G, Lebel M, Levine M, Padwal R, Anonymous00144. · Division of Nephrology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. · Can J Cardiol. · Pubmed #14968141 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To provide updated, evidence-based recommendations for the assessment of the diagnosis, cardiovascular risk and identifiable causes for adults with high blood pressure. OPTIONS: For persons in whom a high blood pressure value is recorded, the assignment of a diagnosis of hypertension is dependent on the appropriate measurement of blood pressure, the level of the blood pressure elevation and the duration of follow-up. In addition, the presence of concomitant vascular risk factors, target organ damage and established atherosclerotic diseases should be assessed to determine the urgency, intensity and type of treatment. For persons diagnosed as having hypertension, defining overall risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes requires an assessment of concomitant vascular risk factors, including laboratory testing, a search for target organ damage and an assessment for modifiable causes of hypertension. Home and ambulatory blood pressure assessment and echocardiography are options for selected patients. OUTCOMES: The identification of persons at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes; the quantification of overall cardiovascular risk; and the identification of persons with potentially modifiable causes of hypertension. EVIDENCE: Medline searches were conducted from November 2001, one year before the period of the last revision of the Canadian recommendations for the management of hypertension, to October 2003. Reference lists were scanned, experts were polled, and the personal files of subgroup members and authors were used to identify other studies. Identified articles were reviewed and appraised using prespecified levels of evidence by content experts and methodological experts. VALUES: A high value was placed on the identification of persons at increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and persons with identifiable and potentially modifiable causes of hypertension. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: The identification of persons at higher risk of cardiovascular disease will permit counselling for lifestyle maneuvers and introduction of antihypertensive drugs to reduce blood pressure for patients with sustained hypertension. The identification of specific causes of hypertension may permit the use of cause-specific interventions. For certain subgroups of patients and specific classes of drugs, blood pressure lowering has been associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and/or mortality. RECOMMENDATIONS: The document contains recommendations for blood pressure measurement, diagnosis of hypertension and assessment of cardiovascular risk for adults with high blood pressure. These include the accurate measurement of blood pressure, criteria for diagnosis of hypertension, and recommendations for follow-up, assessment of overall cardiovascular risk, routine and optional laboratory testing, assessment for renovascular and endocrine causes, home and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and the role of echocardiography for those with hypertension. VALIDATION: All recommendations were graded according to strength of evidence and voted on by the Canadian Hypertension Education Program Evidence-Based Recommendations Task Force. Only the recommendations that achieved high levels of consensus are reported. These guidelines will be updated annually.

Padwal RJ, Hemmelgarn BR, Khan NA, Grover S, McAlister FA, McKay DW, Wilson T, Penner B, Burgess E, Bolli P, Hill MD, Mahon J, Myers MG, Abbott C, Schiffrin EL, Honos G, Mann K, Tremblay G, Milot A, Cloutier L, Chockalingam A, Rabkin SW, Dawes MD, Touyz RM, Bell C, Burns KD, Ruzicka M, Campbell NR, Lebel M, Tobe SW, Anonymous00045. · Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. · Can J Cardiol. · Pubmed #18548142 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To provide updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and assessment of adults with hypertension. OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The diagnosis of hypertension is dependent on appropriate blood pressure measurement, the timely assessment of serially elevated readings, degree of blood pressure elevation, method of measurement (office, ambulatory, home) and associated comorbidities. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage should be ascertained to assess global cardiovascular risk and determine the urgency, intensity and type of treatment required. EVIDENCE: MEDLINE searches were conducted from November 2006 to October 2007 with the aid of a medical librarian. Reference lists were scanned, experts were contacted, and the personal files of authors and subgroup members were used to identify additional studies. Content and methodological experts assessed studies using prespecified, standardized evidence-based algorithms. Recommendations were based on evidence from peer-reviewed, full-text articles only. RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendations for blood pressure measurement, criteria for hypertension diagnosis and follow-up, assessment of global cardiovascular risk, diagnostic testing, diagnosis of renovascular and endocrine causes of hypertension, home and ambulatory monitoring, and the use of echocardiography in hypertensive individuals are outlined. Key messages in 2008 include continued emphasis on the expedited, accurate diagnosis of hypertension, the importance of global risk assessment and the need for ongoing monitoring of hypertensive patients to identify incident type 2 diabetes. VALIDATION: All recommendations were graded according to strength of the evidence and voted on by the 57 members of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program Evidence-Based Recommendations Task Force. All recommendations reported here received at least 70% consensus. These guidelines will continue to be updated annually.

Hemmelgarn BR, Chen G, Walker R, McAlister FA, Quan H, Tu K, Khan N, Campbell N. · Department of Community of Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. · Can J Cardiol. · Pubmed #18548150 links to  free full text

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In 1999, the Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) was launched to develop and implement evidence-based hypertension guidelines. OBJECTIVES: To determine temporal trends in antihypertensive drug prescribing and physician visits for hypertension in Canada, and correlate these trends with CHEP recommendations. METHODS: Longitudinal drug data (Intercontinental Medical Statistics [IMS] CompuScript database; IMS Health Canada) were used to examine prescriptions over an 11-year period (1996 to 2006) for five major cardiovascular drug classes. The IMS Canadian Disease and Therapeutic Index database was used to determine trends in physician office visits for hypertension. RESULTS: Prescriptions for antihypertensive agents increased significantly over the 11-year period (4054% for angiotensin receptor blockers, 127% for thiazide diuretics, 108% for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 87% for beta-blockers and 55% for calcium channel blockers). Time series analyses demonstrated increases in the growth rate for all drug classes, with the greatest annual change in prescriptions occurring during the 1999 to 2002 time period (except in angiotensin receptor blockers). An increase in prescriptions for fixed-dose combination products occurred, which was temporally related to the change in CHEP recommendations encouraging their use in 2001. The proportion of physician office visits for hypertension increased significantly from 4.9% in 1995 to 6.8% in 2005 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The largest increase in antihypertensive drug prescribing occurred in the period immediately following implementation of CHEP (1999 to 2002). Although prescribing rates are still increasing, the rate of change has decreased, suggesting that the treatment market for hypertension may be becoming saturated. The impact of these changes on blood pressure control and clinical outcomes remains to be determined.

Hemmelgarn BR, Grover S, Feldman RD, Anonymous00090. · Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. · CMAJ. · Pubmed #16157720 links to  free full text

This publication has no abstract.