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Hypertensive organ damage: the vulnerable heart of women

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 37, pages 1047–1048 (2023)Cite this article

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Hypertensive-mediated organ damage (HMOD) is recognized as an intermediate step in the continuum of cardiovascular disease and, more importantly, a powerful predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, independently of conventional risk factors including high blood pressure (BP).

The search for HMOD is recommended by the major international hypertension guidelines as it can provide therapeutic guidance of hypertensive patients, initially defined at low or moderate overall risk, troughout re-classification as a consequence of detection of subclinical cardiovascular alterations [1, 2]. According to current guidelines, the essential approach for assessing HMOD in all patients should include serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate, dipstick urine test and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Any other available measure of HMOD can add value to refine management of hypertension provided that it is accessible and clinically indicated in the individual patient [3, 4].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy

    Cesare Cuspidi

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Milano, Italy

    Andrea Faggiano

  3. Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy

    Andrea Faggiano

  4. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital “Dr. Dragisa Misovic-Dedinje”, Heroja Milana Tepica 1, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Marijana Tadic

Authors
  1. Cesare Cuspidi
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  2. Andrea Faggiano
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  3. Marijana Tadic
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Contributions

CC conceptualization and preparation of the first draft. AF and MT contributed to the final draft of the manuscript. All authors made their critical contributions to the final manuscript and its subsequent revision.

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Correspondence to Cesare Cuspidi.

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Cuspidi, C., Faggiano, A. & Tadic, M. Hypertensive organ damage: the vulnerable heart of women. J Hum Hypertens 37, 1047–1048 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-023-00808-y

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