Hypertension: a guide to rational prescribing

Hypertension affects around 26.2% of the adult UK population.¹ Around half of those affected, an estimated 5.5million people, are undiagnosed.²

Hypertension causes more than half of all strokes and myocardial infarctions, increases the risk of heart failure, kidney disease and vascular dementia and causes around 75,000 deaths annually in the UK.¹ Detecting and managing hypertension correctly prevents ill health and improves life expectancy.

Defining and detecting hypertension

NICE guidance defines hypertension as:³ ‘A sustained rise in BP above 140/90 mmHg and either a subsequent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring daytime average or home blood pressure monitoring average of 135/85 mmHg or higher.’

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