title: Impedance Cardiography-Guided Treatment of Hypertension: A Review of the Literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension occurs when regulatory mechanisms fail, resulting in increased cardiac output (CO) and/or increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a non-invasive technology that measures CO and SVR.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the literature related to the use of ICG in guiding the selection of anti-hypertensive medications in individuals with hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were searched for pertinent literature. Only English language, primary research reports published between 1990 and 2014 were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature demonstrated significant reduction of blood pressure among participants who were treated with ICG-guided selection of anti-hypertensive medications when compared to standard treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the research reviewed is not without limitations (e.g., small sample sizes and small effect sizes), individualized pharmacologic treatment of uncontrolled hypertension based on ICG-obtained hemodynamics seems successful in reducing blood pressure. Further research within the Canadian context that addresses the limitations is warranted.
authors.forename: Fadi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khraim
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pike
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology*; D002307:Cardiography, Impedance; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents