Hypertensive Emergency
Hypertension is defined as a persistent elevation of systolic BP of 140mmHg or greater and/or diastolic BP of 90 mmHg or greater
Hypertensive emergency is defined as severe elevation of blood pressure (can occur in patients with BP <180/110 mmHg, particularly if the BP has risen rapidly) associated with new or progressive end organ damage / complication such as
- acute heart failure,
- dissecting aneurysm,
- acute coronary syndromes,
- hypertensive encephalopathy,
- acute renal failure,
- intracranial haemorrhage
Hypertensive urgency is defined as severe increase in BP ( > 180 / 110mmhg ) which is not associated with acute end organ damage/complication and these include patients with grade III or IV retinal changes (also known as accelerated and malignant hypertension), but no overt symptoms and signs of acute target organ damage/complication