Overview
Alexithymia is a personality characteristic defined by difficulty identifying and expressing emotions. It has been associated with an increased risk of hypertension 1.Diagnosis
A greater prevalence of alexithymia has been observed in individuals with hypertension compared to those without 1.
Studies have shown a higher prevalence of alexithymia in people with HTN (26.3%) versus those without HTN (15.0%) 1.Management
No specific management strategies for hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter were discussed in the provided abstracts.Special Populations
No significant relationship was detected between alexithymia prevalence and sex or age in individuals with hypertension 1.Key Recommendations
Consider the association between alexithymia and hypertension, as alexithymia may contribute to the onset and persistence of hypertensive symptomatology 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
Future research is needed to clarify the association between alexithymia and hypertension 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)References
1 Di Tella M, Benfante A, Airale L, Castelli L, Milan A. Alexithymia and Hypertension: Does Personality Matter? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Current cardiology reports 2023. link