At the 2024 European Society of Hypertension Congress, the results of studies on hypertension patients were presented. It was revealed that just over half of the participants managed to lower their blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg, and less than 30% achieved levels below 130/80 mmHg.
These results highlighted the importance of combination therapy for better hypertension control and led to updated treatment recommendations for general practitioners. The new guidelines include four key stages:
- Blood pressure measurement
- Patient examination
- Therapy selection
- Evaluation of treatment effectiveness
The close link between heart and kidney diseases was also emphasized. Experts recommended:
- Preventing risk factors
- Developing, implementing, and evaluating affordable medications with combined effects for treating heart-diabetes and heart-kidney diseases.
Changes in the use of diuretics were also proposed at the Congress. Specifically, it is recommended to:
- Use thiazides in combination with drugs that reduce the risk of hypokalemia (low potassium levels).
- Use thiazide-like diuretics, such as indapamide, instead of thiazides in patients with hypertension and erectile dysfunction. Indapamide is an effective treatment for hypertension and does not cause significant changes in blood sugar levels or other negative metabolic effects.
Beta-blockers have been reintroduced as primary drugs for hypertension treatment. Recent studies show that they are just as effective as other medications in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Among the new promising drugs for hypertension treatment are:
- Aprocitentan — a new drug for resistant hypertension treatment, already approved in the USA.
- Drugs that reduce the risk of side effects and provide effective blood pressure control even in complex cases.
However, caution should be exercised, as combining certain medications may lead to complications.
Microlife blood pressure monitors help many people effectively manage their blood pressure, which is an important part of hypertension prevention and treatment.
More information about the congress can be found here