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Assessment of Total Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertension: The Role of Subclinical Organ Damage

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Special Issues in Hypertension

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Abstract

The estimation of total cardiovascular risk is essential for guiding the management of hypertension. Computerized methods have been developed for estimating total cardiovascular risk (i.e., the likelihood of developing a cardiovascular event, usually within the ensuing 10 years), most of which are based either on the Framingham risk score or the European Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation project. The 2007 European Society of Hypertension–European Society of Cardiology guidelines suggest subclinical organ damage as an integral part of the risk stratification and evaluation of hypertensive patients. Subclinical organ damage is considered an intermediate stage in the continuum of vascular disease and a determinant of overall cardiovascular risk. The search for subclinical organ damage should be performed carefully using the appropriate techniques depending on the availability and resources. Electrocardiography and evaluation of urinary albumin excretion should be part of the routine assessment of hypertensive patients. Subclinical organ damage should be also measured during treatment because there is evidence that regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and reduction of proteinuria are associated with improved prognosis. The search for subclinical organ damage should be made simultaneously in various organs because multiorgan subclinical organ damage is associated with a worse prognosis.).

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  1. Center for Cardiovascular Prevention, Charles University Medical School I and Thomayer Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

    Renata Cífková

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Correspondence to Renata Cífková .

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  1. , Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Ce, Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon

    Adel E. Berbari

  2. Clinica Medica, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Università di Milano-Bicocca, V .Donizetti 106, Milano, Monza, 20133, Italy

    Giuseppe Mancia

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Cífková, R. (2012). Assessment of Total Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertension: The Role of Subclinical Organ Damage. In: Berbari, A., Mancia, G. (eds) Special Issues in Hypertension. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2601-8_16

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