The most common chronic disease in the world, high blood pressure can be dangerous when left untreated. At the University Hospital of Poitiers, the cardiological prevention unit, accredited “Blood Pressure Clinic”, takes care of severe arterial hypertension (HTA). Dr. Benoit Lequeux explains the importance of this hypertension reference center for which he is responsible.
Arterial hypertension: a public health problem
In France, in 2017, nearly 12 million French people were treated for high blood pressure (HTA). It corresponds to an abnormal increase in blood pressure. If left untreated, it can be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (stroke, heart attack), neurodegenerative diseases or heart failure. The ESTEBAN study showed that in France, almost 50% of hypertensive people are unaware of themselves as such. As Dr. Benoit Lequeux points out, “cis a real public health problem since ultimately we have only a few people with identified, treated and balanced arterial hypertension. It is a sneaky disease that does not necessarily cause clinical symptoms “. In 90% of cases, high blood pressure has no particular cause even if certain factors can favor its appearance: age, ethnic origin or family history. This is called “essential” hypertension. The respect of hygieno-dietetic measures, that is to say a healthy diet and physical activity, is the first step to rebalance the tension. Salt is the number one enemy of hypertension, the rise in blood pressure being proportional to the amount of salt ingested. If this is not enough, drug treatments are then prescribed. In other, much less frequent cases, hypertension is said to be “secondary”, linked to another health problem: kidney or endocrine problem, congenital anomaly of the aorta, use of certain medications, sleep apnea, etc. It will be a question of looking for the cause to treat it. ” Whether essential or secondary, you really have to keep in mind that hypertension is most of the time a chronic disease. Who says chronic disease says chronic treatment. It is essential that the patient remains observant in the long term in order to keep a balanced arterial hypertension and thus avoid any complication”, says Dr. Lequeux. If essential hypertension is taken care of by liberal professionals, it is necessary to know how to address the reference center to look for rare causes of secondary hypertension.
A competence center in arterial hypertension at the University Hospital of Poitiers
At the CHU de Poitiers, the cardiological prevention unit takes care of severe arterial hypertension. It is for specialists to find the cause of the disease in patients who should not be affected, such as patients under 35 or patients with multiple treatments. ” If the cause is identified and treated, this will reduce hypertension and thus reduce or even stop treatment. This is essential especially for young patients for whom high blood pressure is not normal explains Dr. Lequeux. With a technical platform, a laboratory and the presence of professionals from many specialties, the unit has all the tools necessary to research the causes of hypertension. The unit is also accredited “Blood Pressure Clinic” by the French Society of Arterial Hypertension. ” This accreditation confirms that our management of arterial hypertension complies perfectly with the recommendations of learned societies. The patient who comes to consult us is certain that our protocols respect very precise specifications and that the specialists of the CHU are qualified to do so. “says Dr. Lequeux. The recent arrival of Dr David Fouassier, cardiologist, has made it possible to restructure the overall management at the University Hospital of patients with secondary hypertension with the establishment of consultations and a dedicated day hospital. Recognition of the unit as a “Blood Pressure Clinic” also allows specialists to carry out clinical research for the development of innovative techniques for the treatment of hypertension.
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