Hypertension in the ED comes in two varieties: emergency and asymptomatic (not urgency!). From this position statement: “Hypertensive emergency involves acute target-organ damage and should be treated swiftly, usually with intravenous antihypertensive medications, in a closely monitored setting.”
Conversely, asymptomatic does not require urgent, aggressive management. “Recent observational studies have suggested potential harms associated with treating asymptomatic elevated inpatient BP, which brings current practice into question.”
Without target organ involvement, we do not need to be initiating IV medications or trying to treat the numbers
References
Bress AP, Anderson TS, Flack JM, Ghazi L, Hall ME, Laffer CL, Still CH, Taler SJ, Zachrison KS, Chang TI; American Heart Association Council on Hypertension; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Clinical Cardiology. The Management of Elevated Blood Pressure in the Acute Care Setting: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Hypertension. 2024 Aug;81(8):e94-e106. doi: 10.1161/HYP.0000000000000238. Epub 2024 May 28. PMID: 38804130.
