Table 1.
Blood pressure levels used to define hypertension, recommend antihypertensive medication, and treatment goal according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, the JNC7 guideline and the JNC8 panel member report.
| Guideline – Definition of hypertension | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 ACC/AHA | JNC7 | JNC8 panel member report | |
| Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | |||
| General population | ≥ 130 | ≥ 140 | ≥ 140 |
| ≥60 years of age without diabetes or CKD | ≥ 150 | ||
| Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | |||
| General population | ≥ 80 | ≥ 90 | ≥ 90 |
| Guideline – Recommended antihypertensive medication | |||
| 2017 ACC/AHA | JNC7 | JNC8 panel member report | |
| Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | |||
| General population | ≥ 140 | ≥ 140 | ≥ 140 |
| Diabetes or CKD | ≥ 130 | ≥ 130 | ≥ 140 |
| High cardiovascular disease risk† | ≥ 130 | ||
| Age ≥ 65 years | ≥ 130 | ||
| ≥60 years of age without diabetes or CKD | ≥ 150 | ||
| Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | |||
| General population | ≥ 90 | ≥ 90 | ≥ 90 |
| Diabetes or CKD | ≥ 80 | ≥ 80 | |
| High cardiovascular disease risk† | ≥ 80 | ||
| Guideline – Treatment goal among those taking antihypertensive medication | |||
| Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | |||
| General population | < 130 | < 140 | < 140 |
| Diabetes or CKD | < 130 | < 140 | |
| ≥60 years of age without diabetes or CKD | < 150 | ||
| Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | |||
| General population | < 80 | < 90 | <90 |
| Diabetes or CKD | < 80 | ||
No specific blood pressure threshold is provided in the guideline for this population. The other thresholds listed from the guideline should be applied, as appropriate.
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels should be based on multiple measurements taken at two or more visits. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, blood pressure was measured three times at a single visit.
In the top and middle panels, adults with systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure above the levels listed and those taking antihypertensive medication are considered to have hypertension and are recommended antihypertensive medication.
In the bottom panel, to achieve treatment goals, both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure goals have to be met.
High cardiovascular risk is defined as a history of cardiovascular disease or 10-year predicted cardiovascular disease risk ≥ 10% using the Pooled Cohort risk equations.
2017 ACC/AHA guideline - 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults.
JNC7 guideline - Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure JNC8 panel member report - 2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: Report From the Panel Members Appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee.
CKD – chronic kidney disease.