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Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure Needs to be Met With Immediate Action

High blood pressure:

  • Accounts for more deaths from CVD than any other modifiable risk factor
  • Is second only to cigarette smoking as a preventable cause of death in the US
  • Was present in more than half of people who die from coronary heart disease and stroke

Reduce Therapeutic Inertia

Therapeutic inertia—failing to start or intensify treatment when BP is high—is a common problem. It is also a leading factor contributing to suboptimal BP control rates, along with the failure of patients to schedule or return for follow up appointments. Both can leave your patient with serious unmanaged risk and can be addressed with an evidence-based treatment protocol.

“For women, high blood pressure has a bigger impact on death from heart disease and stroke than any other risk factor. For men, only cigarette smoking has a higher impact.”

—AHA Statistical Update

Extend Lives: Act Rapidly to Manage Elevated Blood Pressures

When average office BP 120-129 and <80mm Hg at 2 or more office visits:

  • Start nonpharmacologic therapy
  • Follow up in 3-6 months
  • Consider out-of-office BP measurement using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) or self-measured blood pressure (SMBP)

When average office BP ≥130-139 or 80-89 mm Hg and patient does not have clinical ASCVD, diabetes, or CKD:

  • If 10-year risk is <10% in low-risk patient, start or continue nonpharmacologic therapy and follow up in 3-6 months
  • Consider out-of-office BP measurement using 24-hour ABPM or SMBP

When average office BP ≥130-139 or 80-89 mm Hg and patient has clinical ASCVD, diabetes, or CKD:

  • Start or continue nonpharmacologic therapy. Treat as if 10-year risk is ≥10%

*When starting a diuretic, ACE or ARB, follow up in 2 weeks to check electrolytes and renal function.

When average office BP ≥140 or >90 mm Hg:

  • Start or continue nonpharmacologic therapy
  • Start pharmacotherapy, prescribing 2 different classes of antihypertensive agents in most patients (with caution if patient is elderly)*
  • Follow up every 4 weeks until BP is controlled
  • Consider out-of-office BP measurement using 24-hour ABPM or SMBP

Reassess on an ongoing basis using SMBP to identify white coat hypertension and determine a patient’s adherence and response to therapy.

*When starting a diuretic, ACE or ARB, follow up in 2 weeks to check electrolytes and renal function.

Practice Assessment: How Rapidly Do You Act?

Taking Action is Not Enough—We Must Partner With Patients to Achieve Control

If measurements are valid, action is quick and effective, and your practice follows up with patients to monitor their progress, you can help patients achieve and maintain control. This reduces serious risk of CVD and associated comorbidities.

Featured Resources

Use these resources to follow current best practices and improve outcomes.

This resource will help you act rapidly in managing your patients elevated blood pressure by explaining what tools are available to you.

Treat your patients with high BP quickly, using the latest clinical evidence.

Ways to collaborate with your patients to control BP, including five communication skills that may help improve engagement.

Patients often have questions but aren’t sure how to ask. This handout can help.

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The content on the Target: BP Website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician.