Targets for Treatment and Optimal Strategies for Non-Pharmacological and Pharmacological Management of Hypertension

Guidelines are important tools to help clinicians make treatment decisions. For the management of hypertension different guidelines have been released in recent years. Being the most important risk factor worldwide and with its burden still increasing, management of hypertension remains a challenge. This is especially true for low and middle income countries where hypertension awareness, treatment and control rates are still low. To help clinicians make informed decisions we have compared the most important hypertension guidelines that have appeared in the past ten years and summarized there most important recommendations. Key findings are that: 1. All recent hypertension guidelines advocate earlier intervention, more stringent blood pressure targets and promote a healthy lifestyle. 2. Guidelines differ in their definitions of hypertension, treatment thresholds and blood pressure targets for elderly individuals. Important knowledge gaps remain regarding optimal blood pressure thresholds and targets across sex, age, and ethnic groups.