New hypertension guidelines 2017

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) released new hypertension guidelines in 2017, which replaced the previous guidelines from 2003. The new guidelines, known as the ACC/AHA High Blood Pressure Clinical Practice Guideline, were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Hypertension in November 2017.

Key changes and updates in the 2017 guidelines include:

  1. New blood pressure categories: The guidelines introduced new categories for blood pressure levels:
    • Normal blood pressure: Less than 120/80 mmHg
    • Elevated blood pressure: 120-129/80 mmHg
    • Stage 1 hypertension: 130-139/80-89 mmHg
    • Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or higher/90 or higher mmHg
  2. Lowering the threshold for hypertension diagnosis: The guidelines lowered the threshold for diagnosing hypertension from 140/90 mmHg to 130/80 mmHg, which means more people will be considered hypertensive.
  3. New definition of hypertension in children and adolescents: The guidelines introduced a new definition of hypertension in children and adolescents, based on age-specific blood pressure percentiles.
  4. Increased emphasis on lifestyle modifications: The guidelines emphasize the importance of lifestyle modifications, such as a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and weight management, as the first line of treatment for hypertension.
  5. New medications and treatment approaches: The guidelines recommend new medications and treatment approaches, such as angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), for the treatment of hypertension.
  6. Increased focus on cardiovascular risk reduction: The guidelines emphasize the importance of reducing cardiovascular risk, including the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, in addition to controlling blood pressure.
  7. New recommendations for blood pressure monitoring: The guidelines recommend using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) or home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension and monitor treatment response.

The 2017 guidelines aim to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hypertension, and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and related complications.