Overview

Our goal is to improve the understanding of the clinical condition of acute, severe hypertension that is managed in a critical care setting and treated with intravenous antihypertensive therapy. The primary objectives of this study are to:

• Describe the characteristics of patients with acute, severe hypertension cared for in a critical care setting
• Describe contemporary practice in management of acute, severe hypertension in selected acute care hospitals in 10 European countries, including
• Timing of initiation of treatment
• Medications used (acute, oral transition, discharge)
• Control within selected blood pressure ranges
• Time required to achieve control
• Determine in-hospital and post-discharge health outcomes as they relate to management of an episode of acute, severe hypertension