Hypertension guidelines in the spotlight / Kristine Anne Scordo, Kim Anne Pickett

Hypertension is one of the most common modifiable medical conditions. If not detected early and appropriately treated, it can lead to stroke, chronic kidney disease, myocardial infarction, and death. Besides the cost to health, hypertension increases medical expenses significantly: Estimated healthcare expenditures for hypertension reach approximately $131 billion annually. Healthcare professionals who treat patients with hypertension had long anticipated the promulgation of updated Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) guidelines, previously funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The JNC 8 panel members worked independently and didn't partner with other organizations, such as the American College of Cardiology or American Heart Association. Unfortunately, this fragmented approach resulted in three documents published by different organizations. To many clinicians, making sense of these three documents is a daunting task. This article sorts out the similarities and differences among these documents and discusses treatment implications for patients with hypertension.

Nursing