The Telangana Chapter of the Cardiological Society of India is recommending a revised set of American guidelines to treat hypertension, which has triggered deliberations among city doctors.
The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and American Society of Hypertension, have come out with revised guidelines that define hypertension as a reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher. The previous guidelines defined hypertension as blood pressure 140/80 mm Hg or higher. “The two massive studies have led to the revision of guidelines. The Indian subjects and others from 32 countries were part of one of the trials. We are going to start an Indian registry and give out guidelines for Indian patients, but until then, we endorse the American guidelines,” said Sai Ravi Shankar, general secretary of the State chapter.
According to Dr. Shankar, the evidence from the trials suggests that hypertension diagnosis at 130/80 mm Hg and attempting to lower it, mainly through lifestyle medication, helps cut mortality risk by nearly a third.
“We are also working on creating awareness about hypertension and its risks as only about 40% of Indians with hypertension are known to have it,” he added.
The new guidelines has cardiologists deliberating it and seeking more information before revising the treatment protocols.
“The new guidelines make it clear that lifestyle modifications early on are highly beneficial and thus have to be recommended. However, we are yet to learn how we can address the risk of associated problems among people who are hypertensive as per the new definition,” said B. Hygriv Rao, a senior cardiologist in the city.
Citing an instance of stroke-risk in people with atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes the heart to beat irregularly, Dr. Rao said hypertension in such patients adds to a risk-assessment score and eventually determines where anticoagulants are to be prescribed.
“Will the new definition of hypertension add to such scores or will we continue treating the old way has to be seen,” he said.
