Management of hypertension: summary of NICE guidance

Hypertension is one of the most important preventable causes of death worldwide and one of the commonest conditions treated in primary care in the United Kingdom, where it affects more than a quarter of all adults and over half of those over the age of 65 years.1 This article summarises the most recent recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the management of hypertension,2 which updates the 2004 and 2006 clinical guidelines.3 4 5 NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of best available evidence and explicit consideration of cost effectiveness. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the Guideline Development Group’s experience and opinion of what constitutes good practice. Evidence levels for the recommendations are given in italic in square brackets. ### Diagnosing hypertension (Updated recommendation) Based on the experience and opinion of the Guideline Development Group (GDG)