Clinical Practice Guideline(s)

Hypertension in Adults Over 60

Treatment of Hypertension in Adults Over Age 60

(Jointly Developed, January 2017)

The guideline,Treatment of Hypertension in Adults Over Age 60 to Higher vs. Lower Targets, was developed by the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Key Recommendations

Adults over age 60 with persistent systolic blood pressure ≥150 mm Hg should be treated to achieve a target systolic blood pressure of <150 mm Hg.
Adults 60 years or older with a history of stroke or TIA may be treated to a lower target blood pressure of <140 mm Hg to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke.
Adults over age 60 with a high cardiovascular risk may be treated to a lower target blood pressure of <140 mm Hg.
Treatment goals should be based on a periodic discussion of the benefits and harms of specific blood pressure targets.

The AAFP continues its endorsement of the JNC8 guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults. These recommendations are consistent with JNC8 and should be used to augment its guidance.

More About Practice Guidelines

These guidelines are provided only as assistance for physicians making clinical decisions regarding the care of their patients. As such, they cannot substitute the individual judgment brought to each clinical situation by the patient’s family physician. As with all clinical reference resources, they reflect the best understanding of the science of medicine at the time of publication, but they should be used with the clear understanding that continued research may result in new knowledge and recommendations. These guidelines are only one element in the complex process of improving the health of America. To be effective, the guidelines must be implemented.