Key result
Accurate blood pressure measurement, a focused history and physical examination, and basic tests are sufficient for evaluating most patients with elevated blood pressure.
Why the study?
What is the proper clinical and laboratory workup for a patient with an elevated blood pressure reading?
What is the proper clinical and laboratory workup for a patient with an elevated blood pressure reading?
A focused clinical evaluation and basic testing are sufficient for the initial workup of most patients with hypertension, avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Supports streamlined initial hypertension evaluation to curb unnecessary testing; leaves open prospective validation across populations.
Because hypertension is common and many tests are available, an uncritical approach to laboratory and radiologic evaluation leads to unnecessary expenses. However, in most patients, accurate blood pressure measurement, a focused history and physical examination, and a handful of basic tests are enough. In this review we address the key questions in the evaluation of the patient with an elevated pressure reading, ie, does the patient have sustained high blood pressure? And if so, is the hypertension primary or secondary, are other cardiovascular risk factors present, and is there evidence of target organ damage?
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Katakam et al. (2008) conducted a review in Hypertension. Clinical evaluation (history, physical examination, basic tests) was evaluated. Accurate blood pressure measurement, a focused history and physical examination, and basic tests are sufficient for evaluating most patients with elevated blood pressure.
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