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Home > Emergency Medical Minute > Episode 938: AHA Policy on Management of Elevated Blood Pressure (BP) in the Acute Care Setting
Podcast: Emergency Medical Minute
Episode:

Episode 938: AHA Policy on Management of Elevated Blood Pressure (BP) in the Acute Care Setting
Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:02:19
Publish Date: 2025-01-06 11:00:00
Description:

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Many patients present to the ED with elevated BP

    • Many are referred from outpatient surgery centers or present after an elevated measurement at home

  • Persistent questions on the best way to treat these patients

  • The AHA published a scientific statement on the management of elevated BP in the acute care setting

    • Hypertensive emergencies: SBP/DBP >180/110–120 mm Hg with evidence of new or worsening target-organ damage

      • Includes aortic dissection or subarachnoid hemorrhage 

      • Require aggressive treatment

    • Asymptomatic markedly elevated inpatient BP: SBP/DBP >180/110–120 mm Hg without evidence of new or worsening target-organ damage AND asymptomatic elevated inpatient BP: SBP/DBP ≥130/80 mm Hg without evidence of new or worsening target-organ damage

      • No benefits to urgent treatment in the ED, but there are harms to treating patients in this manner

      • These patients do not require IV medications

      •  Provide reassurance and instructions on following up with their PCP to manage their BP in the outpatient setting

    • Removed the term “hypertensive urgency”

References

  1. Bress AP, Anderson TS, Flack JM, et al. The Management of Elevated Blood Pressure in the Acute Care Setting: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Hypertension. 2024;81(8). doi:https://doi.org/10.1161/hyp.0000000000000238

Summarized by Meg Joyce, MS1 | Edited by Meg Joyce & Jorge Chalit, OMS3 

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