New Hypertension Guidelines

[ThadeusJ]

Last fall the AHA released a lower standard for the definition of hypertension and pre-hypertension. Just wondering how this has affected your calls and/or treatment. Personally I see this as something that is discovered more in the family practice setting and less in the pre-hospital EMS setting. Does anyone see or notice a change in practice or how the patient is received upon transfer of care?

 

[VFlutter]

Shouldn't matter in EMS or even Emergency Rooms. Outside of a specific few pathologies hypertension should not be treated emergently. Probably see more people on PO meds that otherwise would not have been before. I am sure there is a good percentage of the population who is hypertension stage 1.

 

[ThadeusJ]

Agreed but you never know if some decision maker would take the information and fly off the handle.
On a personal note I once discovered (in a bad way) that my BP was 225/139 (and the issue was after I had been tracking my BP with a cuff I bought off Amazon (not licensed by Health Canada - I discovered was way out of calibration and was giving me "high normal" readings for three years until I had a stroke)...let that be a lesson to the young'uns. But I digress.

 

[EpiEMS]

I am sure there is a good percentage of the population who is hypertension stage 1.

Certainly more now than before

NNTs are favorable for antihypertensives, I guess?

 

[mgr22]

Certainly more now than before

NNTs are favorable for antihypertensives, I guess?

NNTs? Numbers needed to treat??

 

[EpiEMS]

NNTs? Numbers needed to treat??

Yeah, just thinking - maybe - that lowering thresholds for when something is a "disease" leads to more use of drugs...but they'll help, maybe?

 

[Carlos Danger]

Yeah, just thinking - maybe - that lowering thresholds for when something is a "disease" leads to more use of drugs...but they'll help, maybe?

I think that is a lot of what goes on with these recommendations.

 

[EpiEMS]

I think that is a lot of what goes on with these recommendations.

Seems likely. If I were a cynic, I'd say it's to justify more tests and meds and pay for specialists (see: all the literature on physician owned labs, outpatient facilities...).

 

[Bullets]

I think that is a lot of what goes on with these recommendations.

Personally, i have firmly applied the tin foil hat in this circumstance.

Clinically, our MD doesnt see a need to change our protocols and also is suspicious of this move.

 

[EpiEMS]

suspicious of this move.