DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF HYPERTENSION : CPG 2008

DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF HYPERTENSION

Hypertension is defined as persistent elevation of systolic BP of
140 mmHg or greater and/or diastolic BP of 90 mmHg or greater.

There is a positive relationship between systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the risk of developing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal diseases. Therefore the main aim of identifying and treating high BP is to reduce these risks.

Hence BP should be measured at every clinic encounter.
The classification of high BP, although arbitrary, is useful as clinicians
must make treatment decisions based on the measured BP and the
patients’ associated cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risks and comorbidities.

Table 1 provides a classification of BP for adults (age 18 and older). The WHO-ISH guidelines in principle have adopted a similar classification.1

These criteria are for subjects who are not on any antihypertensive medication and who are not acutely ill.

Table 1. Classification of blood pressure for adults age 18 and older
Category Systolic Diastolic Prevalence in  (mmHg) (mmHg) Malaysia

Doctors should explain to patients the significance of their BP
readings. The need for follow-up and treatment if necessary should
be emphasized. Table 6 on page 9 provides follow-up
recommendations based on the initial set of BP measurements.