Authors:
Jan Basile, MD
,
Michael J Bloch, MD, FACP, FASH, FSVM, FNLA
Section Editors:
George L Bakris, MD
,
William B White, MD
Deputy Editors:
John P Forman, MD, MSc
,
Lisa Kunins, MD
Contributor Disclosures
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our
peer review process
is complete.
Literature review current through: Jan 2021. |
This topic last updated: Jan 27, 2021.
INTRODUCTION
The global prevalence of hypertension is high, and among nonpregnant adults in the
United States, treatment of hypertension is the most common reason for office visits and
for the use of chronic prescription medications [
1-3
]. In addition, roughly one-half of
hypertensive individuals do not have adequate blood pressure control. The prevalence and
control of hypertension are discussed in other topics. (See
"The prevalence and control of
hypertension in adults"
and
"Patient adherence and the treatment of hypertension"
.)
This topic provides a broad overview of the definitions, pathogenesis, complications,
diagnosis, evaluation, and management of hypertension. Detailed discussions of all these
issues are found separately. The reader is directed, when necessary, to more detailed
discussions of these issues in other topics.
