More Than Just the Target: Blood Pressure, Stroke, and Vascular Cognitive Impairment.

Abstract

Despite effective treatments, hypertension remains a leading risk factor of any stroke, stroke recurrence, and vascular cognitive impairment. Hypertension is underdiagnosed and undertreated, both in the primary and secondary prevention setting. The current issue of <i>Stroke</i> includes a Focused Update series of 6 review articles covering differing aspects of hypertension and cerebrovascular disease. Traditionally, the goal of antihypertensive treatment has been risk reduction through reaching defined targets, a <i>"one-size-fits-all"</i> approach, both in the acute stroke and in secondary prevention. In this series, there is a shift toward a more individualized approach to blood pressure management in patients suffering from stroke or vascular cognitive impairment, taking several factors in addition to a defined target into account.