Author Interviews, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, Duke, JAMA / 29.03.2014
New Hypertension Guidelines Potentially Affect Millions of Americans
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ann Marie Navar-Boggan, MD, PhD
Division of Cardiology,
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Navar-Boggan: Two groups of adults are really affected by the updated guidelines. First, 13.5 million adults, including one in five adults over the age of 60, were previously considered to have uncontrolled blood pressure but now meet new guideline goals.
Next, 14 million adults over the age of 60 (one in four adults in this age group) are currently on blood pressure lowering therapy and meeting the older, more stringent targets. The guidelines state that no changes are necessary in this group, but they may be eligible for reduced therapy, particularly if they have had side effects or difficulty with the therapies they are taking.
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