Not only physicians and scientists, but also governmental agencies and health insurers are finding it important to use objective measurements of the benefits and cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment. These outcomes can be classified as short-, intermediate-, and long-term. The short-term outcomes are most relevant to the practitioner and include such measures as blood pressure control, [...]
Should treatment differ in African-Americans and Caucasians? The answer is yes and no. Yes, the choice of initial monotherapy should differ in hypertensive African-Americans and Caucasians. No, the selection and use of antihypertensive drugs should not differ once the patient needs the addition of a second or third drug. No, the compelling clinical indications for [...]
It is well recognized that it is the physician’s responsibility to diagnose when hypertension is present, to rule out remediable causes, and to prescribe appropriate therapy. Less recognized is the physician’s duty of care to ensure that therapy is effective in the long term. For this reason, careful instruction and follow-up of the patient is [...]
