What is the goal of treatment for a patient in hypertensive urgency?

The goal of treatment for a patient in hypertensive urgency is to normalize blood pressure over a period of 24 to 48 hours. Hypertensive urgency, characterized by significantly elevated blood pressure without acute end-organ damage, requires a more gradual approach to lowering blood pressure in order to prevent potential adverse effects associated with rapid reductions.

This timeframe allows healthcare providers to use oral medications to effectively reduce blood pressure while closely monitoring the patient for any complications. Targeting a more controlled and gradual reduction in blood pressure is essential to ensure the patient’s safety and overall stability.

In contrast, options that suggest immediate normalization of blood pressure, such as within 2 hours, are typically associated with hypertensive emergencies where acute end-organ damage is present, which is not the case in hypertensive urgency. Similarly, aiming for very specific low blood pressure targets (like less than 110/70 mm Hg or less than 120/80 mm Hg within 36 hours) is not appropriate, as the primary objective in handling a hypertensive urgency is to prevent the situation from escalating while ensuring patient safety through a careful and monitored approach.