Resistant and refractory arterial hypertension: similarities and differences, new approaches to diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Refractory hypertension is a novel phenotype of antihypertensive treatment failure. The terms "refractory hypertension" and "resistant hypertension" were considered interchangeable for a long time and related to difficult-to-treat hypertension. Recently, the term "refractory hypertension" refers to a very small group of patients who do not really reach the target blood pressure for maximum antihypertensive therapy. In this review we discuss similarities and contrasts definition, prevalence, patient characteristics, risk factors, and possible underlying etiologies of refractory and resistant hypertension.