Resistant hypertension: epidemiology and risk factors

Abstract

Despite the possibilities of contemporary pharmacotherapy, more than 80% of hypertensive patients do not achieve target blood pressure levels. Besides the obvious reasons – poor adherence of patients to treatment and non-rational therapy, there are other objective risk factors of resistance. Three main modifiable causes of resistant hypertension, that are often underestimated, are considered: obesity, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and primary hyperaldosteronism. Understanding these mechanisms of resistance and their diagnostic criteria can improve the results of resistant hypertension treatment.

Keywords

• arterial hypertension
• resistant hypertension
• compliance
• obesity
• obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
• hyperaldosteronism