A Managed Care Perspective on Hard-to-Control Hypertension: Understanding the Risks and Challenges in Uncontrolled and Resistant Hypertension

Program Description

Uncontrolled and treatment-resistant hypertension continue to present significant clinical and public health challenges, affecting millions of adults and driving disproportionate rates of cardiovascular and renal morbidity. This session will explore the spectrum of uncontrolled and resistant hypertension, highlighting underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, with a focus on the role of aldosterone dysregulation within the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The epidemiology, high-risk patient groups, and clinical consequences of persistent blood pressure elevation will also be discussed. Faculty presenters will review recent updates to the 2025 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines and discuss contemporary treatment paradigms, including common barriers to achieving control despite multidrug therapy. The program will also spotlight novel therapeutic advances, such as aldosterone synthase and endothelin receptor antagonists, that target key biologic drivers of disease. Participants will gain insight into managed care considerations, including cost-effectiveness, formulary decision-making, and strategies to optimize equitable access, to improve outcomes for patients with hard-to-control hypertension.

Target audience: Managed Care Pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: April 30, 2026
Expiration date: April 30, 2027
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Time to complete activity: 1.5 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Examine the incidence and prevalence of hypertension in the United States, the risks associated with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension, the burden of long-term hypertension, and the unmet treatment need
• Interpret new treatment guidelines, standard options for controlling blood pressure, and new and emerging therapies that may change the treatment landscape for patients with hard-to-control hypertension
• Explore the high cost of treating uncontrolled or treatment-resistant hypertension, the downstream effects of hard-to-control hypertension, and managed care strategies to promote access and positive patient outcomes