Factors affecting drug treatment of hypertension: Accuracy of diagnosis;severity of hypertension Etiology:Primary(essential hypertension)vs.secondary (10-15%patients) Identifiable causes of hypertension:Pheochromocytoma,renal artery constriction,Cushing's syndrome(hypercorticism)and Cushing's disease (over-production of ACTH),primary aldosteronism,thyroid or parathyroid disease,coarctation of the aorta Pre-existing risk factors and medical conditions(smoking,hyperlipidemia, diabetes,congestive heart failure,asthma,current medications) Individualization(age,gender,ethnicity);patient compliance Single drug(monotherapy)vs.multiple drug(polypharmacy)Factors affecting drug treatment of hypertension: • Accuracy of diagnosis; severity of hypertension • Etiology: Primary (essential hypertension) vs. secondary (10-15% patients) • Identifiable causes of hypertension: Pheochromocytoma, renal artery constriction, Cushing’s syndrome (hypercorticism) and Cushing’s disease (over-production of ACTH), primary aldosteronism, thyroid or parathyroid disease, coarctation of the aorta • Pre-existing risk factors and medical conditions (smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, congestive heart failure, asthma, current medications) • Individualization (age, gender, ethnicity); patient compliance • Single drug (monotherapy) vs. multiple drug (polypharmacy)