Approaches to antihypertensive therapy in patients predisposed to symptomatic hypotension and syncope

Abstract

The management of a hypertensive patient with a history of syncope is aimed at maintaining a balance between cardiovascular and hypotensive (syncope) risks. The article presents an analysis of the literature data regarding the relationship between these clinical problems, and also draws practical conclusions that allow to ensure the optimal reduction in blood pressure in the interests of preventing cardiovascular diseases without the threat of drug-related hypotension (fainting). Variants of syncope in patients with arterial hypertension are summarized, depending on the association with antihypertensive therapy. There presented an expert opinion on the recommended target level of systolic blood pressure (120 mm Hg) in hypertensive patients under 70 years of age with a low syncope but high cardiovascular risk, as well as the target level of systolic blood pressure (140 mm Hg) in patients with high syncope and low cardiovascular risk or in elderly and / or frail individuals with hypertension. There noted the admissibility of bringing the systolic blood pressure to the target value up to 160 mm Hg in persons with severe frailty or disability. Examples of normal and pathological (hypotensive) patterns of hemodynamic response in persons with hypertension to long-term passive orthostasis obtained during the tilt test and influencing the decision-making on the activity of antihypertensive therapy are given. The importance of an interdisciplinary team approach with the participation of experts in regulatory circulatory disorders and geriatrics, which can significantly improve the quality of management of patients with a combination of hypertension and syncope, is stated.