2025 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline: 5 changes worth knowing The 2025 ACC/AHA g…

2025 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline: 5 changes worth knowing

The 2025 ACC/AHA guideline (published 14 Aug 2025) replaces the 2017 version. Key updates:

• Target unchanged: <130/80 mm Hg for most adults. Getting systolic BP below 130 is now also linked to lowering the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

• New risk tool: The PREVENT equations replace the Pooled Cohort Equations for estimating 10-year CVD risk.

• Stage 1 (130–139/80–89): Start medication if the patient has diabetes, CKD, or a 10-year PREVENT risk of ≥7.5%. Also start it if BP stays ≥130/80 after 3–6 months of lifestyle changes.

• Terminology: "Hypertensive urgency" is now called "severe hypertension" (>180/120 mm Hg without acute target-organ damage).

• Obesity link: A GLP-1 RA can be considered in adults with hypertension and overweight or obesity.

Why it matters in India: ICMR-INDIAB found that about 35.5% of Indian adults have hypertension.

Reference: Jones DW et al. JACC 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.05.007

#Hypertension #Cardiology #PreventiveCardiology #ClinicalGuidelines