Involvement of health professionals: From the general practitioner to the hypertension specialist and the hypertension center

Resistant hypertension is a very complex disease [1]. Its pathophysiology is characterized by persistently high blood pressure (BP) levels above the recommended BP goals (i.e., below 140/90 mmHg) in the presence of lifestyle changes and optimal antihypertensive strategy based on at least three antihypertensive agents, including a diuretic at adequate doses [2]. It is often associated with the presence of organ damage, including left ventricular hypertrophy and/or dysfunction, carotid or peripheral atherosclerosis, albuminuria or renal impairment, and leads to higher susceptibility to develop overt cardiovascular and renal complications, including myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, and end-stage renal disease [2]. As such, this condition is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than essential hypertension and deserves specific pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to reduce this risk.