Recent research from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TDMU) has raised a significant concern about the increasing dangers associated with acute hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure.
Despite being called the “silent killer” due to its often hidden symptoms, new findings suggest that acute cases of hypertension are leading to more severe health issues.
The study, published in the journal Hypertension, analyzed medical records of over 50,000 patients admitted for acute hypertension from 2010 to 2019.
The findings are alarming: there has been a notable increase in the need for urgent kidney dialysis and in the number of deaths in the hospital due to spiking blood pressure.
During the decade-long study, the rate of patients requiring urgent dialysis more than doubled, rising from 1.52% to 2.6%.
Hisazumi Matsuki, the study’s lead author, points out that this increase was significant across various groups, including younger individuals, men, those who are overweight, and patients with hypertensive heart failure.
These groups are now considered high-risk. The urgent dialysis process itself can be risky, potentially leading to complications such as infections or bleeding, which in turn heightens the risk of death.
The mortality rate among these patients also saw an increase, from 1.83% to 2.88%. This rise in death rates wasn’t solely due to complications from dialysis.
Shintaro Mandai, the senior author, notes that the increase was especially notable in older, male, and underweight patients, as well as those with hypertensive heart failure.
Intriguingly, overweight patients showed a lower mortality rate, a phenomenon known as the ‘obesity paradox’, where higher body mass index sometimes correlates with decreased mortality.
Senior author Shinichi Uchida explains that underweight patients often suffer from poor nutrition and low physical activity and might have underlying conditions that contribute to their weight loss.
This makes it challenging to detect heart congestion, especially if there is no significant rise in blood pressure.
The research underscores a worrying trend: despite advancements in treating hypertension, the number of acute hypertension cases hasn’t decreased.
High blood pressure can cause serious damage to organs by altering the structure of blood vessels, which are present throughout the body.
To combat these rising issues, people with hypertension need proper outpatient care and intensive control of their blood pressure.
This includes medication, regular exercise, and healthy diets. Early detection of hidden congestion, especially in underweight patients, and providing them with nutritional support, are also crucial.
The study highlights the need for preventive measures to reduce unplanned hospital admissions due to acute hypertension.
By raising awareness and improving outpatient care, the hope is to reduce the risks associated with this condition and improve patient outcomes.
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The research findings can be found in Hypertension.
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