This review summarizes the 2011 NICE hypertension guidelines for nurse prescribers, highlighting the role of ABPM in diagnosis and updated treatment algorithms.
In 2011, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance for hypertension endorsed the use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for the diagnosis of hypertension. When ABPM is not available, home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is preferred over clinic blood pressure readings. The diagnostic threshold for hypertension using ABPM or HBPM is any blood pressure of 135/85 mmHg or higher. Once diagnosed, patients should be offered lifestyle advice, and, if appropriate, drug therapies, aiming to control blood pressure to lower than 140/90 mmHg. A revised treatment algorithm recommends angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers or calcium channel blockers as first- and second-line therapy options. Ensuring appropriate ongoing monitoring as well as identifying and addressing non-adherence are key issues.
Helen Williams (Fri,) studied this question.