Prevalence and clinical outcomes of patients with apparent treatment‐resistant hypertension enrolled in Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation

• Published in: The journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.) Vol. 22; no. 12; pp. 2377 - 2381
• Main Authors: Laffin, Luke J., Khan, Asad, Lang, Katherine, Van Iterson, Erik H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley and Sons Inc 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiac Rehabilitation; exercise capacity; Humans; hypertension; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - epidemiology; Prevalence; resistant hypertension; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Short Report; Short Reports; exercise capacity; hypertension; resistant hypertension; cardiac rehabilitation
• ISSN: 1524-6175; 1751-7176
• DOI: 10.1111/jch.14057

Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) employs evidenced‐based interventions to modify the risk of cardiac morbidity in its participants. The prevalence of apparent treatment‐resistant hypertension (aTRH) among CR participants is unknown. A retrospective analysis of a longitudinal cohort of patients who completed CR between 2012 and 2017 was undertaken. The prevalence of hypertension was 62% (n = 311). 11% of participants with hypertension had aTRH (n = 35). Participants with aTRH exhibited lower exercise capacity (EC) before starting CR and after its completion compared to normotensive counterparts (P < .001). aTRH participants were more likely to experience a decrease in EC, even after participating in cardiac rehabilitation, compared to normotensive participants (P = .02). aTRH participants were more likely to be hospitalized or seen in the emergency department after cardiac rehabilitation completion compared to normotensive counterparts (OR: 2.85, P < .01). CR presents an opportunity to identify and appropriately care for patients with aTRH.