Abstract

Racial and ethnic minority populations are growing segments of our society. The prevalence of hypertension in these populations differs across groups, and control rates are not as good as in the general population. Clinicians should be aware of these management challenges, taking social and cultural factors into account. Guidelines are provided for management of children and women with hypertension. In older persons, diuretics are preferred and long-acting dihydropyridine calcium antagonists may be considered. Specific therapy for patients with LVH, coronary artery disease, and heart failure are outlined. Patients with renal insufficiency with greater than 1 g/d of proteinuria should be treated to a therapy blood pressure goal of 125/75 mm Hg; those with less proteinuria should be treated to a blood pressure goal of 130/85 mm Hg. ACE inhibitors have additional renoprotective effects over other antihypertensive agents. Patients with diabetes should be treated to a therapy blood pressure goal of below 130/85 mm Hg. Hypertension may coexist with various other conditions and may be induced by various pressor agents.