Resistant hypertension affects about 17% of the US population. However, it is difficult to diagnose because of multiple factors that influence adequate treatment of BP, including patient lifestyle and comorbidities, improper therapeutic regimens, and secondary mechanisms. Possible causes of resistant hypertension include nonmodulator hypertension, which affects patients who have an inappropriate response to elevated sodium through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Early identification and frequent follow-up can help patients achieve BP goals more rapidly and may reduce morbidity and mortality associated with complications of hypertension, including cerebrovascular accident, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease.
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