Cardiovascular System Alterations of the cardiovascular system can cause serious adverse events and may lead to death when not treated in a timely and safe manner. Unfortunately, many patients with cardiovascular disorders are unaware until complications appear. Consider hypertension. An estimated 68 million people in the United States have this disorder (CDC, 2012). However, about 30 percent of these patients are not treated at all, and of those who are treated, less than 50 percent have properly controlled blood pressure levels (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2009). In clinical settings, patients often present with symptoms of hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders making it essential for you, as the advanced practice nurse, to be able to recognize these symptoms and recommend appropriate drug treatment options. This week you examine the impact of changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapy for cardiovascular disorders. You also explore ways to improve drug therapy plans for these disorders.
• Evaluate the influence of patient factors on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics processes • Analyze the impact of changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapy • Evaluate drug therapy plans for cardiovascular disorders • Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat cardiovascular disorders Discussion: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders As the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, cardiovascular disorders account for 7 million hospitalizations per year (NCSL, 2012). This is the result of the extensive treatment and care that is often required for patients with these disorders. While the incidences of hospitalizations and death are still high, the mortality rate of cardiovascular disorders has been declining since the 1960s (CDC, 2011). Improved treatment options have contributed to this decline, as well as more knowledge on patient risk factors. As an advanced practice nurse, it is your responsibility to
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