Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Longer time to clinical hypertension diagnosis reduces timely prescribing of antihypertensives and increases adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
As per the findings of a large retrospective cohort study, delays in diagnosing hypertension are not only common but also contribute to lower rates of timely treatment initiation and a heightened risk of cardiovascular events over the long term.
Researchers examined electronic health record data from an integrated health system covering January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021. The study incorporated 311,743 adults (age 18 to 85 years). All the subjects had a minimum of two outpatient blood pressure readings of 140/90 mm Hg or more, noted at least 30 days apart—benchmark used to define a "computed hypertension diagnosis". Data analysis was executed between January and November 2023.
Timing of diagnosis
Volunteers were categorized based on the interval between their second elevated blood pressure measurement and the formal clinician-documented diagnosis of hypertension:
Key outcomes
Who faced the longest delays?
Diagnostic delays were more pronounced in certain subgroups:
Why it matters?
Hypertension is one of the most powerful predictors of cardiovascular disease—the world’s leading cause of death. Missing opportunities to diagnose and treat it early could mean higher hospitalizations, worse long-term outcomes, and unnecessary loss of life.
The takeaway!
The findings portray a clear message. Healthcare systems need to catch elevated blood pressure earlier and act faster. According to researchers, earlier identification and swift treatment could substantially curtail the burden of heart disease in at-risk populations.
JAMA Network Open
Delayed Hypertension Diagnosis and Its Association With Cardiovascular Treatment and Outcomes
Yuan Lu et al.
Comments (0)