Best Practice Case Studies-Hypertension PS

Pdf Summary

The document is a scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) focusing on hypertension as a prevalent cardiovascular condition in the general population and a significant risk factor for competitive athletes. The statement emphasizes the prevalence and implications of elevated blood pressure in athletes, offering recommendations for assessments, diagnosis, and management tailored to this group.<br /><br />Hypertension is common in adults, including young athletes, and is a risk factor for other cardiovascular conditions. An estimated 9.1% of men and 6.7% of women aged 20 to 34 are hypertensive, with an estimated 3.5% prevalence in children and adolescents. Diagnosing hypertension requires standardized conditions and multiple assessments of blood pressure (BP) to avoid errors due to varied measurement practices among healthcare providers.<br /><br />The report outlines the BP measurement guidelines and advocates for standardized conditions to improve the diagnosis. The importance of confirming elevated BP with out-of-office measurements, such as 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring, is particularly highlighted for competitive athletes due to potential measurement errors in clinical settings.<br /><br />For athletes with hypertension, the statement stresses the need for a thorough evaluation to rule out secondary causes and assess target-organ damage. Recommended tests include history taking, a minimal laboratory workup, and potentially, echocardiography to differentiate physiological from pathological cardiac hypertrophy.<br /><br />Several specific recommendations are provided: stage 1 hypertension without organ damage should not limit sports participation, but monitoring is emphasized; athletes with stage 2 hypertension should refrain from high static sports until BP is managed; and antihypertensive treatment should involve drugs registered with governing sports bodies, with exemptions obtained when necessary.<br /><br />Overall, the statement serves as a guidance document for managing hypertension in athletes, balancing the benefits of physical activity with the risks posed by elevated BP, and tailoring individualized assessments and interventions.

Meta Tag

Edition 2nd Edition

Related Case 2nd Edition, CASE 04

Topic Cardiac

Keywords

2nd Edition, CASE 04

2nd Edition

Cardiac

hypertension

athletes

blood pressure

American Heart Association

American College of Cardiology

cardiovascular risk

BP measurement

antihypertensive treatment

sports participation

diagnosis guidelines