ABSTRACT
The current situation is that borderline blood pressure is watched carefully and treatment is only instituted once the diastolic blood pressure reaches 100 or more on a regular basis, although this might be slightly different in the elderly patient. A middle-aged patient with a blood pressure of 160/100 will live approximately 14 years less than an equivalent patient with a blood pressure of 120/80. The greater the pressure left untreated, the greater the risk. Moderately high blood pressure (diastolic 105-120) carries a 20% mortality at the end of five years if left untreated, and severe hypertension carries a 60% mortality over the same period of time if left untreated. If the blood pressure is borderline, but there is evidence of damage to the brain, heart or kidneys, reducing the blood pressure is beneficial. Evidence of loss of function in the brain, heart or kidneys is known as end organ damage, and it is for evidence of this that the patient is investigated.
