Arterial hypertension

Abstract

Arterial hypertension is one of the most common diseases in western industrialized nations. Approximately 10% of patients with hypertension suffer from secondary arterial hypertension. Diseases, in addition to obstructive sleep apnea, that lead to secondary arterial hypertension include renal artery stenosis, renal parenchymal diseases, or hyperaldosteronism. Obstructive sleep apnea is a frequent cause of difficult to treat secondary arterial hypertension. Presence of sleep apnea increases the risk for developing secondary arterial hypertension, independent of other risk factors. Typical in patients with sleep apnea is a lack of the day/night decrease in the 24-h blood pressure measurements, which is an independent cardiovascular risk factor for affected patients. Often, in addition to the specific treatment of sleep apnea, additional drug therapy is essential in order to achieve guideline-based control of blood pressure. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.