Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences
Asymptomatic hypertension
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Asymptomatic hypertension

Contributors: Kaitlynn E. Butler MD, Bruce Lo MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Emergent Care / Stabilization: 
Initial assessment of a patient with markedly elevated blood pressure (BP) should be to assess for any signs or symptoms of target organ injury and hypertensive emergencies based on a thorough history and physical examination. These include but are not limited to stroke, cardiac ischemia, aortic dissection, congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema, hypertensive encephalopathy, hypertensive nephropathy / end-stage renal disease, or pregnant patients in whom markedly elevated BPs may be suggestive of preeclampsia or eclampsia.

Signs and symptoms of hypertensive emergencies are not acutely present in patients with asymptomatic hypertension.

Diagnosis Overview:
Asymptomatic hypertension is asymptomatic, markedly elevated BP without signs and symptoms of acute target organ injury.
  • There is no uniformly accepted definition of markedly elevated BP, generally accepted as ≥ 160/100, although some studies use ≥ 180/110.
Hypertension is a common diagnosis. An estimated 33%-50% of adults in the United States have hypertension, and the estimated prevalence of elevated BP among emergency department (ED) visits is close to 45%.

Codes

ICD10CM:
I10 – Essential (primary) hypertension

SNOMEDCT:
38341003 – Hypertensive disorder, systemic arterial

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Reviewed:08/22/2023
Last Updated:09/26/2023
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Asymptomatic hypertension
Print  
A medical illustration showing key findings of Asymptomatic hypertension
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.