IV. Routine & Optional Lab Tests
1) Routine laboratory tests should be performed for the investigation of all patients with hypertension, including:
- urinalysis (Grade D),
- blood chemistry (potassium, sodium, and creatinine) (Grade D),
- fasting glucose (Grade D),
- fasting total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides (Grade D), and
- standard 12-lead electrocardiography (Grade C).
2) Assess urinary albumin excretion in patients with diabetes (Grade D).
3) (i) All treated hypertensive patients need to be monitored for the appearance of diabetes according to the Current Diabetes Associate (CDA) guidelines (Grade B).
(ii) During the maintenance phase of hypertension management, tests (including those for electrolytes, creatinine, and fasting lipids) should be repeated with a frequency reflecting the clinical situation (Grade D).