The Singapore Family Physician

Back to issue Vol 46 No. 2 - FPSC79 - Chronic Disease Management (Re-run)

Proteinuria and Hypertension with and and without type 2 diabetes mellitus: An Update

Goh Lee Gan
The Singapore Family Physician Vol 46 No 2 - FPSC79 - Chronic Disease Management (Re-run)
1 March 2019
0377-5305
In this update four related areas are reviewed. They are: (1) Blood Pressure (BP) definition and classification; (2) Hypertension diagnosis; (3) Hypertension and proteinuria in non-diabetic patients; and (4) Proteinuria and hypertension in the patient with diabetes. METHODOLOGY. PubMed searches were done for papers to the above four topics published in the last five years (2014 to 2019). These were supplemented by papers from hand searches. RESULTS. For diagnosis of hypertension, the current cut off of 140/90 mmHg can be reduced to 130/80 mmHg to improve cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality. Diagnosis of hypertension should not be based on office BP readings alone. Hypertension in older patients should be treated to prevent worse outcomes and should be individualised. In non-diabetic patients, both low grade and microalbuminuria needs to be treated; adequate BP control is needed to prevent cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality. In the diabetic patient, a BP target of less than 140/90 mmHg applies to most patients but individualisation of the BP goal is important. CONCLUSIONS. Much development in the management of proteinuria and hypertension has taken place in the last five years.