The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, along with 11 other medical societies, have updated recommendations for preventing, detecting and managing high blood pressure in adults. Published Aug. 14 in JACC, the update replaces the 2017 guideline and incorporates the latest evidence since 2015.
Among the most significant changes is the adoption of the PREVENT risk calculator, which combines cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health measures to provide more precise estimates of cardiovascular disease risk and guide treatment decisions, according to an Aug. 14 news release by the ACC. The guideline also recommends screening all patients with resistant hypertension for primary aldosteronism — regardless of potassium levels — and advises continuing most blood pressure medications before testing to avoid delays.
Additional updates include lowering the treatment threshold in pregnancy to 140/90 mm Hg, expanding required lab testing, promoting tailored medication strategies and suggesting possible use of GLP-1 therapies in certain patients with hypertension and obesity.
