Proposal of a Modified Classification of Hypertensive Crises: Urgency, Impending Emergency, and Emergency

Abstract

Systemic arterial hypertension (HTN) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality, and HTN crises contribute significantly to an unfavourable clinical course. For decades, HTN crises have been dichotomized into hypertensive emergency (HTN-E) and hypertensive urgency (HTN-U). The main difference between the two is the presence of acute hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) – if HMOD is present, HTN crisis is HTN-E; if not, it is HTN-U. Patients with HTN-E are in a life-threatening situation. They are hospitalized and receive antihypertensive drugs intravenously (IV). On the other hand, patients with HTN-U are usually not hospitalized and receive their antihypertensives orally. We suggest a modification of the current risk stratification scheme for patients with HTN crises. The new category would be the intermediate risk group, more precisely the ‘impending HTN-E’ group, with a higher risk in comparison to HTN-U and a lower risk than HTN-E. ‘Impending HMOD’ means that HMOD has not occurred (yet), and the prognosis is, therefore, better than in patients with ongoing HMOD. There are three main reasons to classify patients as having impending HTN-E: excessively elevated BP, high-risk comorbidities, and ongoing bleeding/high bleeding risk. Their combinations are probable. This approach may enable us to prevent some HTNEs by avoiding acute HMOD using a timely blood pressure treatment. This treatment should be prompt but controlled.