AAPC Certified Evaluation and Management Coder (CEMC) Practice Exam

Uncontrolled hypertension refers to high blood pressure that remains elevated despite treatment efforts. This term is used to describe cases where blood pressure readings do not meet the target levels, indicating that the condition is either untreated or not responding adequately to prescribed therapy.

In clinical practice, managing hypertension involves consistent monitoring and adjusting treatment regimens, yet some patients may find that even with adherence to medication, their blood pressure stays high. This ongoing elevation is what classifies the condition as uncontrolled, highlighting the need for further evaluation and possibly more intensive treatment approaches.

The other terms mentioned, while related to hypertension, carry distinct meanings: acute hypertension typically refers to a sudden and severe increase in blood pressure, secondary hypertension indicates high blood pressure resulting from an identifiable cause, and refractory hypertension describes a situation where a patient’s blood pressure remains high despite the use of multiple medications. Each of these terms has specific clinical implications that differentiate them from uncontrolled hypertension.