By providing a unique meeting format combining video case studies, faculty debate, audience interactivity, and evidence-based presentations, our goal is to create positive change in physician practice and impart critical insights into the management of hypertension (HTN) and its sequelae.

HTN affects more than 65 million people in the United States, and is a highly prevalent and serious cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD remains the leading killer of both men and women in the United States. HTN is also associated with an increased risk of stroke, congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and other common causes of death, in addition to having negative affects on quality of life.

Despite treatment guidelines, a wide range of available therapies, and national programs to encourage the aggressive detection and management of HTN, blood pressure (BP) control remains suboptimal. Currently, only 65% of adults with HTN are being treated and BP is successfully controlled in less than 40% of those patients. Selection of the most appropriate antihypertensive drug is multifactorial and physicians must be intimately familiar with the mechanisms of action, side-effect profiles, and modes of use of these various therapeutic options. Physicians will need to target therapy to not only reduce BP, but to provide benefit in terms of other cardiovascular risk factors.

Through a series of interactive case studies, this collective clinical forum will provide clinicians with important insights into the significance of BP management and practical strategies for the assessment and treatment of HTN. Furthermore, the educational activity will make clinicians aware of treatment inertia, and help them understand that titrating dosages upward and using additive strategies are important in getting to goal. This educational activity will also help clinicians assess the roles of monotherapy, additive therapy, and fixed-dose combination therapy in the management of HTN.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the current hypertensive guidelines and blood pressure goal rates established by the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
• Discuss how current concepts and existing evidence factor into choosing the most effective initial monotherapy in hypertensive management.
• Explain the roles of additive strategies and fixed-dose combination regimens in improving blood pressure management.
• Design tailored treatment regimens to improve hypertensive management and meet the individual needs of people with hypertension.
• Apply evidence-based medicine utilizing the latest experimental and clinical data to improve outcomes for hypertensive patients.

Jan N. Basile, MD (Chair)
Director, Primary Care Service Line
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
Professor of Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC

Alan Gradman, MD
Division of Cardiovascular Disease
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital
Professor of Medicine
Temple University
Pittsburgh, PA

Norman M. Kaplan, MD
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Hypertension
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX

Intended Audience
Healthcare professionals in attendance of the American Society of Hypertension, Inc. 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition. There are no prerequisites for attendees.

Accreditation Statement
The American Society of Hypertension, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement
The American Society of Hypertension, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Each physician should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Statement
The American Society of Hypertension, Inc. strives to insure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. All participants in such activities are expected to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest that may have a direct bearing on the subject matter of the session in which they are participating. This pertains to relationships, in place at the time of the activity or in the twelve (12) months preceding the activity, with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or other corporations whose products or services are related to the subject matter of the presentation topic.

Americans with Disabilities Act
The American Society of Hypertension, Inc. fully complies with the legal requirements of the ADA and the rules and regulations thereof. Please notify us if you have any special needs.