Hypertension: the latest NICE guidance

A guide to the main points in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence hypertension guidance update

Essential facts

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most important treatable causes of premature morbidity and mortality in the world, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) . It is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, cognitive decline and premature death. In 2015, it was reported that hypertension affected more than one in four adults in England and contributed to 75,000 deaths.

What’s new?

New NICE guidance states treatment for hypertension should now be considered at a lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk threshold.

NICE recommends that blood pressure lowering