USPSTF Reaffirms Hypertension Screening Guidelines

The US Preventive Services Task Force has reaffirmed its guidance on screening for hypertension in adults.

The new draft recommendation statement serves as an update to the group’s 2015 A recommendation for screening for hypertension and was created through USPSTF’s reaffirmation process. This process is used for “well-established, evidence-based standards of practice in current primary care practice for which only a very high level of evidence would justify a change in the grade of the recommendation.”

They conducted an evidence review examining the accuracy of office blood pressure measurement (OBPM) for initial screening, various methods of evaluation for adults who have screened positive via OBPM, and the benefits and harms of early detection.

The recommendation:

Adults aged 18 years and older should be screened with OBPM. Measurements taken outside of the office should be obtained for confirmation before starting treatment (A Recommendation).

“The USPSTF found no new substantial evidence that could change its recommendation and therefore reaffirms its recommendation. The current reaffirmation clarifies that initial screening should be performed with OBPM, updates language to be more consistent with current evidence, and clarifies implementation strategies.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

US Preventive Services Task Force. hypertension in adults: screening: Draft recommendation statement. June 23, 2020. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/hypertension-in-adults-screening-2020