Hypertension in adults: summary of updated NICE guidance

Boffa, Rebecca J; Constanti, Margaret; Floyd, Christopher N; Wierzbicki, Anthony S; Glover, Mark

Abstract

Hypertension is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. More than 25% of the adult UK population has hypertension, and in about 30% blood pressure remains uncontrolled.1 In August, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its updated guideline on the diagnosis and management of hypertension. The guideline reviews further evidence that has emerged since it was last updated in 2011 from randomised trials investigating the initiation, monitoring, and choice of antihypertensive treatment. The scope of the updated guideline has increased to also include people with type 2 diabetes, but does not make recommendations for people with chronic kidney disease, established cardiovascular disease, or hypertension in pregnancy.
This article summarises the most recent recommendations from NICE and includes information considered to be most relevant to primary care clinicians. Key changes to current practice include offering drug treatment to people at a lower threshold for 10 year risk of cardiovascular disease, emphasis on maintaining blood pressure below target, and clarifying criteria for same day specialist review in people with accelerated hypertension.

Citation

Boffa, R. J., Constanti, M., Floyd, C. N., Wierzbicki, A. S., & Glover, M. (2019). Hypertension in adults: summary of updated NICE guidance. BMJ, 367, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5310

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 14, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Oct 21, 2019
• Publication Date: Oct 21, 2019
• Deposit Date: Dec 11, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 18, 2019
• Journal: BMJ
• Print ISSN: 0959-8138
• Electronic ISSN: 1756-1833
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 367
• Article Number: l5310
• Pages: 1-6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5310
• Keywords: General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3122238
• Publisher URL: https://www.bmj.com/content/367/bmj.l5310
• Additional Information: Guideline Committee members: Elizabeth Clark, Elizabeth Denver, Mark Glover, Judith Magowan, Terry McCormack, Irene McGill, Richard McManus, Lucy Pollock, Mark Shapley, Alison Warren and Bryan Williams (until 10/10/2018)