Plasma renin activity (PRA) levels and antihypertensive drug use in a large healthcare system.

aRBs) (71%), but diuretics increased (52%, 53%, 57%, 68%), calcium channel blocker’s ( ccB) fell (56%, 53%, 51%, 42%), and β-blockers fell (77%, 61%, 49%, 41%). Moreover, systolic BP fell (146, 142, 140, 135 mm hg), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) rose (16, 17, 18, 20 mg/dl), serum uric acid rose (6.1, 6.3, 6.5, 6.9 mg/dl), and chronic kidney disease rose (22%, 22%, 23%, 27%). conclusions Polytherapy was the norm for treating hypertension. Lower PR as were associated with higher blood pressures and more medications. higher PRas were associated with lower pressures and fewer medications. The results indicate that opportunities exist to simplify antihypertensive therapy by using current ambulatory PR a levels to guide drug selections and subtractions.