Redefining Hypertension

By James Keough

They may be an important measure of health, but simple blood pressure readings can’t predict who among those with pre-hypertension—blood pressure between 120/80 and 140/90—needs treatment to prevent heart attacks and stroke. For that reason, the American Society for Hypertension (ASH) plans to expand the definition for high blood pressure by looking at cardiovascular risk factors, biochemical markers, and signs of organ damage—a move that could give roughly 30 million more Americans a diagnosis of hypertension. The problem? Three drug companies, Merck, Novartis, and Sankyo, have given the society some $775,000 to fund the new definition and explain it to physicians. Oh, by the way, all three happen to sell popular brands of blood pressure medicine.

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