ABSTRACT

Definition Because blood pressure is a continuously distributed trait in the population and the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with the level of blood pressure increases progressively as it exceeds 115 mm Hg systolic or 75 mm Hg diastolic, the definition of hypertension is somewhat arbitrary. Currently for adults, hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or higher. Hypertension is further stratified into two stages on the basis of the highest level of either systolic or diastolic blood pressure (Table 13-1). Systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg is considered prehypertension. Persons with prehypertension are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and progression to hypertension over time compared with persons with normal blood pressure.