Abstract
New knowledge in the field of hypertension is summarized in the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. A piece of novelty is automated repeated office BP measurement performed in a separate room (without presence of other persons), which may improve reproducibility and has a better correlation with daytime BP values during 24-hour ABPM or with home BP measurement.
The decision to initiate antihypertensive treatment depends on BP level and total CV risk. Antihypertensive medication is initiated sooner or later in most hypertensive patients.
Lifestyle changes only with close BP monitoring should be the recommendation in young individuals with isolated moderate elevation of brachial SBP and in those with high normal BP at low or moderate risk. The main benefit of BP-lowering treatment is due to BP lowering per se.
As thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, ACEIs and ARBs adequately lower BP and reduce CV morbidity and mortality, they are recommended for initiation and maintenance of BP control, either as monotherapy or in combination. A BP level < 140/90 mmHg continues to be the goal for the majority of hypertensive patients.