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Hypertension: Current trends and future perspectives
Author(s) -
Hunter Paul G.,
Chapman Fiona A.,
Dhaun Neeraj
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/bcp.14825
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , intensive care medicine , blood pressure , kidney disease , disease , type 2 diabetes mellitus , albuminuria , obesity , bioinformatics , endocrinology , biology
Hypertension is a significant and increasing global health issue. It is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide due to its effects on end organs, and through its associations with chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and obesity. Despite current management strategies, many patients do not achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) control. Hypertension‐related cardiovascular mortality rates are rising in tandem with the increasing global prevalence of chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and obesity. Improving BP control must therefore be urgently prioritised. Strategies include utilising existing antihypertensive agents more effectively, and using treatments developed for co‐existing conditions (such as sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for diabetes mellitus) that offer additional BP‐lowering and cardiovascular benefits. Additionally, novel therapeutic agents that target alternative prohypertensive pathways and that offer broader cardiovascular protection are under development, including dual angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitors. Nonpharmacological strategies such as immunotherapy are also being explored. Finally, advancing knowledge of the human genome and molecular modification technology may usher in an exciting new era of personalised medicine, with the potential to revolutionise the management of hypertension.