Hypertension through patient’s life stages: Part one

Introduction The prevalence of hypertension in adults of 16 years or older is 31.5% in men and 29% in women.[1] In general practice the diagnosis and care of hypertensive patients is determined largely by NICE 2011 hypertension guidance,[2] with GPs taking into account individual patient factors. This NICE guidance changed the methods of diagnosing hypertension in primary care and established diagnosis through clinic blood pressure readings (CBP), followed by either ambulatory 12- hour BP monitoring (ABPM) or home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM). This excludes patients with white coat hypertension from diagnosis and treatment and prevents unnecessary treatment for anxious patients,