title: The importance of integrated risk management when treating patients with hypertension: benefits of angiotensin II receptor antagonist therapy.
abstract: Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly in patients with comorbid obesity, diabetes, metabolic disease, or end-organ damage. An integrated CV risk management approach is being adopted: aggressive blood pressure (BP) control is important in patients with high CVD risk, and well-tolerated antihypertensive agents with protective benefits beyond BP lowering are advantageous. The renin-angiotensin system is integral to blood pressure control and is well established in the pathophysiology of CVD. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are highly efficacious, persistent, well-tolerated antihypertensive agents, with additional benefits in comorbid hypertension, CV pathologies, end-organ damage, and, in diabetes, diabetic nephropathy or metabolic syndrome. ARBs decrease overall risk of CV and end-organ disease, CVD-related mortality, and cerebrovascular events in patients with hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Nefrologia, Hypertension Unit, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. ruilope@ad-hocbox.com
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ruilope
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segura
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015984:Causality; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000077405:Irbesartan; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077405:Irbesartan