No Benefit for Treating Low-Risk Patients with Mild Hypertension

Recommendations regarding treating low-risk patients with mild hypertension vary, because of differing definitions of “low risk” and “mild.” In this retrospective cohort study from the U.K., researchers used a nationally representative general practice database to identify patients with mild hypertension, defined as three consecutive blood pressure (BP) readings of 140 to 159 mm Hg systolic or 90 to 99 mm Hg diastolic, with no readings over either upper limit. The 19,143 patients who received prescriptions for any antihypertensive medication following diagnosis were matched by several demographic and clinical variables with the same number of patients with mild hypertension who were not treated. All patients had low risk for cardiovascular …