Hypertension in young adults
Walter van der Merwe, Veronica van der Merwe
Hypertension is common, even in young adults. The NHANES survey 2011–2012 put the incidence
of hypertension in the 18–39 year age group at 7.3%.1 There are no outcome studies of hypertension
treatment in young adults, but short to medium-term risks (5–10 years) of untreated mild and
moderate hypertension are likely to be low.2 However, long-term outcomes (30–40 years) are much
more important to people in their 20s than to those in their 60s and 70s and it seems likely that
hypertension from a young age, particularly if undiagnosed or untreated for a long period of time
would carry a very substantial long-term cardiovascular risk.3
General practitioners may be reluctant to make a diagnosis of hypertension in a young person, and
may also lack confidence about how to investigate and treat it. There is evidence that hypertension in
this age group is less likely to be diagnosed or treated even when young individuals have good access
to primary care.4
Between 22 February 2009 and 10 June 2013, 1000 consecutive new patients were seen through the
North Shore Hospital Hypertension Clinic; mean age 55 years. From this group we extracted and
reviewed the data on those aged 30 years or less at their first visit.
Ninety-two (9.2% of the total) were aged 30 years on the date of their first clinic visit (range 15–30
years, mean age 24); 70 were European, 9 Asian, 8 Maori and 9 Pacific people. 24-hour ambulatory
blood pressure monitoring was used in 51 patients (55%).
Average number of clinic visits was 2.6 (1–8). Secondary causes were identified in 12 (13%) patients:
primary renal disease (6), obstructive sleep apnoea (5), primary aldosteronism (1). Average BMI was
31.8.
Forty-seven (51%) were on antihypertensive medication at the first clinic visit, and 53 (58%) at
discharge. Mean blood pressure at the first visit for all patients was 145/86 mmHg. Mean discharge
blood pressure was 129/75 mmHg and mean blood pressure drop was 16/11 mmHg.
Of those on antihypertensive medication, both at admission and discharge average number of drugs
used was 2, although there was increased use of ACE-inhibitors and DHB calcium channel blockers,
and reduced use of thiazide diuretics and beta blockers on discharge.
At discharge, the 92 patients could be categorised as follows:
• 41 – Essential hypertension on antihypertensive medication.
• 12 – Secondary hypertension on antihypertensive medication.
• 27 – Prehypertension (BP 120–139/ 80–89) not currently on antihypertensive medication.
• 12 – White coat hypertension not currently on antihypertensive medication.
In other words none of the patients was completely “normal”. Clearly those with treated essential
hypertension and secondary hypertension require long-term monitoring and follow-up.
Prehypertension is not a completely benign condition, despite not mandating blood pressure
medication immediately; it has been shown that the majority of individuals with prehypertension will
progress to hypertension.5
White coat hypertension, similarly, despite not mandating immediate use of antihypertensive
medication does not have the same prognostic implications as true normotension; it confers a significantly higher risk of progression to chronic hypertension,6 and separate from that, also a higher
stroke risk.7
In short, all 92 patients aged 30 years and less referred to the hypertension clinic, including the 39
(42%) discharged on no antihypertensive medication were at significantly higher risk for long-term
cardiovascular complications than age-matched individuals from the general population.
An additional important consideration in young individuals with treated hypertension and those with
prehypertension is that they are at an age where lifestyle intervention may provide an important
component both in the treatment of hypertension, and in the prevention of, or delayed progression to
established hypertension.8,9 This is particularly relevant to our group of young patients whose mean
BMI (30.8) was significantly above the healthy range.
Hypertension is by no means uncommon in very young adults, whose lifetime risk of cardiovascular
disease and premature death may be substantially higher than those who develop hypertension in
middle-age or later life. Although secondary causes of hypertension do occur, the majority still have
essential hypertension.
All young adults, including adolescents should have an annual blood pressure check, and whilst a oneoff
elevated reading does not make a diagnosis of hypertension, it should not be ignored, and the
individual should be recalled for further evaluation.
24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should probably be mandatory for diagnosis of
hypertension in young people, and is particularly useful prior to commencing medication.10
Walter van der Merwe
Consultant Nephrologist, Renal Service
North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
waltervandermerwe7@gmail.com
Veronica van der Merwe
Hypertension Clinical Nurse Specialist, Renal Service
North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
References
1. Nwankwo T, Yoon S, Burt V. Hypertension among adults in the United States: National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db133.htm
2. MoH. NZ Primary Care Handbook 2012. Wellington: Ministry of Health (MoH).
http://www.health.govt.nz/.../nz-primary-care-handbook-2012.pdf
3. Marma AK, Jarett D, Berry MD et al. Distribution of 10-year and lifetime predicted risks for
cardiovascular disease in US adults: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2003 to
2006. Circ.Cardiovasc.Qual.Outcomes.2010;3:8–14
4. Johnson HM, Thorpe CT, Bartels CM, et al. Undiagnosed hypertension among young adults with
regular primary care use. J.Hypertens.2014;32:65–74
5. Vasan RS, Larson MG, Leip EP, et al. Assessment of frequency of progression to hypertension in nonhypertensive
participants in the Framingham Heart Study: a cohort study. Lancet.
2001;358(9294):1682.
6. Bidlingmeyer I, Burnier M, Bidlingmeyer M, et al. Isolated office hypertension: a prehypertensive
state? J Hypertens. 1996;14(3):327.
7. Verdecchia P, Reboldi GP, Angeli F, et al. Short- and long-term incidence of stroke in white-coat
hypertension. Hypertension. 2005;45(2):203.
Hypertension in young adultsWalter van der Merwe, Veronica van der MerweHypertension is common, even in young adults. The NHANES survey 2011–2012 put the incidenceof hypertension in the 18–39 year age group at 7.3%.1 There are no outcome studies of hypertensiontreatment in young adults, but short to medium-term risks (5–10 years) of untreated mild andmoderate hypertension are likely to be low.2 However, long-term outcomes (30–40 years) are muchmore important to people in their 20s than to those in their 60s and 70s and it seems likely thathypertension from a young age, particularly if undiagnosed or untreated for a long period of timewould carry a very substantial long-term cardiovascular risk.3General practitioners may be reluctant to make a diagnosis of hypertension in a young person, andmay also lack confidence about how to investigate and treat it. There is evidence that hypertension inthis age group is less likely to be diagnosed or treated even when young individuals have good accessto primary care.4Between 22 February 2009 and 10 June 2013, 1000 consecutive new patients were seen through theNorth Shore Hospital Hypertension Clinic; mean age 55 years. From this group we extracted andreviewed the data on those aged 30 years or less at their first visit.Ninety-two (9.2% of the total) were aged 30 years on the date of their first clinic visit (range 15–30years, mean age 24); 70 were European, 9 Asian, 8 Maori and 9 Pacific people. 24-hour ambulatoryblood pressure monitoring was used in 51 patients (55%).Average number of clinic visits was 2.6 (1–8). Secondary causes were identified in 12 (13%) patients:primary renal disease (6), obstructive sleep apnoea (5), primary aldosteronism (1). Average BMI was31.8.Forty-seven (51%) were on antihypertensive medication at the first clinic visit, and 53 (58%) atdischarge. Mean blood pressure at the first visit for all patients was 145/86 mmHg. Mean dischargeblood pressure was 129/75 mmHg and mean blood pressure drop was 16/11 mmHg.Of those on antihypertensive medication, both at admission and discharge average number of drugsused was 2, although there was increased use of ACE-inhibitors and DHB calcium channel blockers,and reduced use of thiazide diuretics and beta blockers on discharge.At discharge, the 92 patients could be categorised as follows:• 41 – Essential hypertension on antihypertensive medication.• 12 – Secondary hypertension on antihypertensive medication.• 27 – Prehypertension (BP 120–139/ 80–89) not currently on antihypertensive medication.• 12 – White coat hypertension not currently on antihypertensive medication.In other words none of the patients was completely “normal”. Clearly those with treated essentialhypertension and secondary hypertension require long-term monitoring and follow-up.Prehypertension is not a completely benign condition, despite not mandating blood pressuremedication immediately; it has been shown that the majority of individuals with prehypertension willprogress to hypertension.5White coat hypertension, similarly, despite not mandating immediate use of antihypertensivemedication does not have the same prognostic implications as true normotension; it confers a significantly higher risk of progression to chronic hypertension,6 and separate from that, also a higherstroke risk.7In short, all 92 patients aged 30 years and less referred to the hypertension clinic, including the 39(42%) discharged on no antihypertensive medication were at significantly higher risk for long-termcardiovascular complications than age-matched individuals from the general population.An additional important consideration in young individuals with treated hypertension and those withprehypertension is that they are at an age where lifestyle intervention may provide an importantcomponent both in the treatment of hypertension, and in the prevention of, or delayed progression toestablished hypertension.8,9 This is particularly relevant to our group of young patients whose meanBMI (30.8) was significantly above the healthy range.Hypertension is by no means uncommon in very young adults, whose lifetime risk of cardiovasculardisease and premature death may be substantially higher than those who develop hypertension inmiddle-age or later life. Although secondary causes of hypertension do occur, the majority still haveessential hypertension.All young adults, including adolescents should have an annual blood pressure check, and whilst a oneoffelevated reading does not make a diagnosis of hypertension, it should not be ignored, and theindividual should be recalled for further evaluation.24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should probably be mandatory for diagnosis ofhypertension in young people, and is particularly useful prior to commencing medication.10Walter van der MerweConsultant Nephrologist, Renal ServiceNorth Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealandwaltervandermerwe7@gmail.comVeronica van der MerweHypertension Clinical Nurse Specialist, Renal ServiceNorth Shore Hospital, Auckland, New ZealandReferences1. Nwankwo T, Yoon S, Burt V. Hypertension among adults in the United States: National Health andNutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db133.htm2. MoH. NZ Primary Care Handbook 2012. Wellington: Ministry of Health (MoH).http://www.health.govt.nz/.../nz-primary-care-handbook-2012.pdf3. Marma AK, Jarett D, Berry MD et al. Distribution of 10-year and lifetime predicted risks forcardiovascular disease in US adults: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2003 to2006. Circ.Cardiovasc.Qual.Outcomes.2010;3:8–144. Johnson HM, Thorpe CT, Bartels CM, et al. Undiagnosed hypertension among young adults withregular primary care use. J.Hypertens.2014;32:65–745. Vasan RS, Larson MG, Leip EP, et al. Assessment of frequency of progression to hypertension in nonhypertensiveparticipants in the Framingham Heart Study: a cohort study. Lancet.2001;358(9294):1682.6. Bidlingmeyer I, Burnier M, Bidlingmeyer M, et al. Isolated office hypertension: a prehypertensivestate? J Hypertens. 1996;14(3):327.7. Verdecchia P, Reboldi GP, Angeli F, et al. Short- and long-term incidence of stroke in white-coathypertension. Hypertension. 2005;45(2):203.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
