Overview

• The new guideline, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, focuses on diagnosing and treating hypertension in primary care settings.
• It introduces lower thresholds for defining hypertension and treatment targets, aiming to promote earlier detection and intervention.
• Developed using the WHO's HEARTS framework, the guideline seeks to improve hypertension control and reduce cardiovascular complications at a population level.
• Approximately one in four Canadian adults is affected by hypertension, with control rates declining despite previous successes in management.
• The guideline is designed to address 95% of uncomplicated cases in primary care, with a second guideline forthcoming for more complex scenarios.