The Importance of Integrated Risk Management When Treating Patients with Hypertension: Benefits of Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonist Therapy

Abstract

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly in patients with comorbid obesity, diabetes, metabolic disease, or end-organ damage. An integrated CV risk management approach is being adopted: aggressive blood pressure (BP) control is important in patients with high CVD risk, and well-tolerated antihypertensive agents with protective benefits beyond BP lowering are advantageous. The renin-angiotensin system is integral to blood pressure control and is well established in the pathophysiology of CVD. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are highly efficacious, persistent, well-tolerated antihypertensive agents, with additional benefits in comorbid hypertension, CV pathologies, end-organ damage, and, in diabetes, diabetic nephropathy or metabolic syndrome. ARBs decrease overall risk of CV and end-organ disease, CVD-related mortality, and cerebrovascular events in patients with hypertension.

Keywords:

• irbesartan
• hypertension
• integrated risk management
• cardioprotection
• renoprotection