Hypertension: Diagnosis and management in primary care

Abstract

The global prevalence of hypertension is high and continues to rise, making it an increasingly common condition managed in primary care. Untreated hypertension can cause end-organ damage leading to complications that increase morbidity and mortality from cardiac, renal, and cerebrovascular disease. Hypertension can significantly affect an individual patient’s quality of life and can cause a considerable strain on the healthcare system. If hypertension is detected early, these events are avoidable, as there is an opportunity for intervention at a much lesser cost. Several proven, highly effective, and well-tolerated lifestyle and drug treatment strategies can achieve reduction in blood pressure. The aim of this article is to illustrate evidence-based steps that are applicable in the diagnosis and management of hypertension in primary care.