Investigations in hypertension: Which ones, and how frequently to be repeated?

Regular blood pressure checks are crucial for monitoring and managing hypertension, as well as detecting potential health issues early on. In the previous blog post we discussed how frequently blood pressure should be monitored (Read post here).

Here we shall address another frequent query – which tests should be done by patients of high blood pressure i.e. hypertension, and how often should they be done to ensure good health?

Hypertension has long term effects on your heart, your kidneys and your metabolic health. When hypertension is first diagnosed, we recommend a:-

1. Renal profile: S. urea & creatinine, S. sodium, potassium & calcium, urine routine & microscopy and spot urinary protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR).

2. Cardiac profile: ECG & 2-D echocardiogram.

3. Metabolic profile: Complete hemogram, lipid profile, blood sugars and liver function tests.

The following image sums up the blood tests for easier understanding.

As hypertension is a chronic illness, the current recommendation is to repeat all the mentioned investigations ANNUALLY i.e. once a year.  In case any report comes abnormal, your physician will guide you regarding further management and may also change the frequency of repeating the blood tests.

 This routine monitoring helps to identify any changes or abnormalities, allowing your healthcare provider to adjust your treatment plan or provide guidance on making lifestyle modifications to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

This article has been compiled using sources from European Society of Hypertension (ESH) & American College of Cardiology (ACC) guidelines.

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