2003 World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Hypertension (ISH) statement on management of hypertension

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is estimated to cause 4.5% of current global disease burden and is as prevalent in many developing countries, as in the developed world. Blood pressure-induced cardiovascular risk rises continuously across the whole blood pressure range. Countries vary widely in capacity for management of hypertension, but worldwide the majority of diagnosed hypertensives are inadequately controlled. This statement addresses the ascertainment of overall cardiovascular risk to establish thresholds for initiation and goals of treatment, appropriate treatment strategies for non-drug and drug therapies, and cost-effectiveness of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Since publication of the WHO/ISH Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in 1999, more evidence has become available to support a