Screening for High Blood Pressure

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for high blood pressure in adults aged 18 and older. (This is a grade "A" recommendation)

Rationale:

Importance. Hypertension is a very prevalent condition that contributes to significant adverse health outcomes, including premature deaths, heart attacks, renal insufficiency, and stroke.
Detection. The USPSTF found good evidence that blood pressure measurement can identify adults at increased risk for cardiovascular disease due to high blood pressure.
Benefits of detection and early treatment. The USPSTF found good evidence that treatment of high blood pressure in adults substantially decreases the incidence of cardiovascular events.
Harms of detection and early treatment. The USPSTF found good evidence that screening and treatment for high blood pressure causes few major harms.
USPSTF assessment. The USPSTF concludes that there is high certainty that the net benefit of screening for high blood pressure in adults is substantial.