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The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association's new blood pressure guidelines came in a comprehensive, and thus ponderous, 192-page document. So here at ľֱ we've pulled together an abridged version for visual learners.
Below you'll find key changes to thresholds for diagnosis and treatment, the algorithm for treatment, how prevalence is projected to change, and more.
1. 130/80 mm Hg is the new 140/90 mm Hg, but there’s more to the new guideline with two stages of hypertension and a new name for prehypertension.
2. The guideline replaces JNC7, seen here side by side for comparison.
3. The update emphasizes lifestyle changes in each blood pressure category and leaves antihypertensive medications for higher-risk stage 1 patients and stage 2 hypertension.
4. The lowered threshold for hypertension increases its prevalence compared with the JNC7 thresholds.
Prevalence of Hypertension, By ACC/AHA 2017 Versus JNC7
5. The impact will vary by group. Hover over the chart below to see details for each.
6. The change won’t have as large an impact on prevalence of antihypertensive treatment due to risk-based recommendations in stage 1 hypertension.
ACC/AHA 2017 Recommendations for Nonpharmacological Intervention
7. The pharmacologic treatment thresholds are largely similar across comorbidities.
Blood Pressure Thresholds, By Condition
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