Treating prehypertension: a review of the evidence.
Although the term "prehypertension" has been challenged by some, its use to define people with systolic blood pressure (BP) between 120 and 139 mm Hg and/or diastolic pressures between 80 and 89 mm Hg has gained general acceptance. The category includes as many people as the number who have hypertension, defined as blood pressure of 140/90 or above. Such people are clearly at an increased risk of cardiovascular damage compared with people with BPs below 120/80 mm Hg. The major unresolved issue is the appropriate management of such patients. Two trials have attempted to document the value of short-term drug therapy to prevent the progression of BP to overt hypertension, but no outcome studies are currently available.
Kaplan
Norman M
NM
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 25390, USA. norman.kaplan@utsouthwestern.edu
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers