THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYSTEMIC ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND THE OCCURRENCE OF STROKE IN ADULTS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, with Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) being the most relevant modifiable risk factor for stroke. This study aimed to map and analyze the scientific evidence in the literature regarding the relationship between SAH and the occurrence of stroke in adults. The search strategy was carried out on the BVS, PubMed, SciELO, and PEDro databases, with a time frame from 2021 to 2025. Scientific articles in English and Portuguese were included. Eight articles that met the eligibility and methodological rigor criteria were selected. The main results indicate that SAH is the predominant modifiable risk factor, responsible for more than 55% of stroke cases. Blood pressure control, aiming for systolic pressure targets below 120 mmHg, proved to be significantly more effective in reducing the incidence of cerebrovascular events and mortality than standard treatment. It is concluded that hypertensive adults have greater vulnerability due to chronic endothelial damage. The study reinforces that early diagnosis, accurate monitoring via Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM), and multidisciplinary interventions are crucial to mitigate the functional and socioeconomic impacts caused by stroke in the population.