A major change in the 2024 ESC Guidelines1 is the recommendation to pursue a target systolic BP of 120–129 mmHg among adults receiving BP-lowering medications.
There are caveats to this recommendation, including:
- The requirement that treatment to this BP target is well tolerated by the patient.
- The fact that more lenient BP targets are ok with symptomatic orthostatic hypotension, those aged 85 years or over, or those with moderate-to-severe frailty or limited life expectancy.
- A strong emphasis on out-of-office BP measurement to confirm that the systolic BP target of 120–129 mmHg is achieved.
Where a target systolic BP of 120–129 mmHg is not pursued, either due to intolerance or the existence of conditions that favour a more lenient BP target, target a BP that is as low as reasonably achievable.
As published in NZ Doctor and Research Review
