Activity Overview

Approximately 50 million American adults have hypertension. Despite its prevalence and the existence of rigorously developed clinical guidelines and effective pharmacologic interventions, treatment gaps in the management of hypertension continue to exist. Data from the American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2007 Update report that at least half of the individuals with diagnosed hypertension are not adequately controlled, and at least 15% are currently not on antihypertensive medication. In-depth needs assessments clearly identify practice and knowledge gaps related to:
  • Adherence to JNC7 treatment guidelines for hypertension, including the unclear relevance of JNC7 to clinical practice and incorporating recent JNC7 updates into patient management
  • The place of beta blockade in clinical practice, especially whether end-organ protection or blood pressure control is the medical end point
  • The rationale for and appropriate utilization of combination antihypertensive therapy

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of this educational CME activity, participants will be better able to:
  1. Assess the relevance of JNC7 and recent updates on the management of patients with hypertension
  2. Critically evaluate class heterogeneity within beta blockade and the impact of such blockade on end-organ protection and blood pressure control
  3. Discuss the rationale for, and appropriate use of, combination antihypertensive therapy over the range of patient risk strata

Intended Audience

This activity has been designed for primary care physicians and other health care professionals who may be involved in the management of hypertension.

Accreditation Statement

The Physicians Academy for Clinical and Management Excellence is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The Physicians Academy for Clinical and Management Excellence designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Statement of Responsibility

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The opinions or views expressed in this CME activity are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of Physicians Academy or the commercial supporter(s). Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Faculty

Chair

Franz H. Messerli, MD
Director, Hypertension Program
Division of Cardiology
St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Corporation
New York, NY

Faculty

James P. Capó Jr., MD
Senior Partner
Internal Medicine Associates of Atlanta
Atlanta, GA

Eric Mizuno, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Department of General Internal Medicine
Northwestern University Medical School
Chicago, IL

Faculty Disclosure Policy

It is the policy of The Physicians Academy for Clinical and Management Excellence to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor and integrity in all of its sponsored educational activities. All persons who are in a position to control the educational content of a sponsored activity are expected to disclose to the participants any relevant financial relationship(s) they and/or their spouse/partner have with the commercial supporter and/or providers of commercial services and/or manufacturers of any commercial products discussed during the educational activity. All conflicts of interest have been identified and resolved prior to the release of this activity.

Managing the Complicated Hypertensive Patient Monograph Request

Physicians Academy American Society of Hypertension
This activity is sponsored by The Physicians Academy for Clinical and Management Excellence in collaboration with
the American Society of Hypertension

GlaxoSmithKline

This activity is supported by an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline