Slides

High BP or hypertension is defined as BP that is persistently elevated and >140/90 mmHg in otherwise healthy individuals. The Seventh Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) guideline recommends a BP goal of 140/90 mmHg in the general population, and a goal of 130/80 in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension is long-term health condition that is common among older adults, although it affects people of all age groups. In The World Health Report 2002—Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life, the World Health Organization estimated the worldwide prevalence of high BP to be 1 billion and annual deaths resulting directly from this condition to be 7 million. Despite an improvement in the quality of health care, it is predicted that the prevalence of BP will continue to rise due to the aging of the population.