title: High normal blood pressure and prehypertension: the debate continues.
abstract: Subjects with high normal blood pressure are at high risk of developing hypertension. Thus, the criteria of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program for diagnosis of hypertension and recommendations for follow-up now recommend that patients with high normal blood pressure (130 mmHg to 139 mmHg systolic and/or 85 mmHg to 89 mmHg diastolic) be followed up annually for the development of hypertension. Clinical trial data from subjects with high normal blood pressure show that 40% over two years and 63% over four years developed hypertension (140/90 mmHg or higher). These data are consistent with observational data from the Framingham Heart Study, which found a similar risk. Besides annual follow-up, the Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommends lifestyle therapy for individuals with high normal blood pressure. Ongoing research will establish whether any further management is required.
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Internal Medicine Teaching Clinic, St Catharines, Ontario. pbolli@xenomix.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolli
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hemmelgarn
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: Sheldon W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tobe
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values