NICE issues draft updated guidance on diagnosis and management of hypertension in adults

SPS commentary:

The two new DRAFT recommendations are as follows:

1.4.23 Use the same blood pressure targets for people with and without cardiovascular disease. [This reflects current practice for most types of cardiovascular disease, so there should be no change in practice or increase in resource use].

1.4.30 For people with cardiovascular disease:

• follow the recommendations for disease-specific indications in the NICE guideline on their condition (for example, when prescribing an ACE inhibitor or an ARB for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction)
• if their blood pressure remains uncontrolled, offer antihypertensive drug treatment in line with the section on choosing antihypertensive drug treatment (for people with or without type 2 diabetes)

The above recommendation reflects current practice for most types of cardiovascular disease and any impact on prescribing is expected to be limited.