The document summarizes the key changes between the 2014 hypertension guidelines (JNC 8) and previous guidelines (JNC 7). The 2014 guidelines lower treatment thresholds based on rigorous evidence from randomized controlled trials. They recommend initiating treatment at SBP/DBP of 140/90 mmHg for those under 60, and 150/90 mmHg for those 60 and over. For those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, the goal is SBP/DBP under 140/90 mmHg. Thiazide-type diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers are first-line treatments depending on population. The guidelines note limitations around scope and costs/adherence.

1. New 2014 Hypertension Guidelines
Evidence Based Confusion?
Asso: Professor Kyaw Soe Win
MBBS, MMedSc (Int Med), MRCPUK, FRCP (Edin), FAsCC, FAPSIC
6th July 2014

2. Published online December 18, 2013

10. 2011 BHS/NICE Guidelines
Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 22nd edition

11. 2011 BHS/NICE Guidelines
Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 22nd edition

12. Recommendations: Hypertension/Blood Pressure
Control
AADDAA 22001144
Goals
 People with diabetes and hypertension
should be treated to a systolic blood pressure
goal of <140 mmHg
 Lower systolic targets, such as <130 mmHg,
may be appropriate for certain individuals,
such as younger patients, if it can be
achieved without undue treatment burden
 Patients with diabetes should be treated to a
diastolic blood pressure <80 mmHg
ADA. VI. Prevention, Management of Complications. Diabetes Care 2014;37(suppl 1):S36

13. Step 1 Step 2
JNC-1 (1977)
Stepped Care
Diuretic Add methyldopa, reserpine, or propranolol
JNC-2 (1980)
Stepped Care
Diuretic Adrenergic-inhibiting agents (clonidine, methyldopa,
beta blocker, alpha blocker, )
JNC-3 (1984)
Stepped Care
Less than full dose of diuretic or beta
blocker
Add small dose of adrenergic-inhibiting agent or
thiazide-type diuretic
JNC-4 (1988)
Individualized Stepped
Care
Diuretic, beta blocker, calcium channel
blocker, or ACE inhibitor
Add second drug of another class, increase dose of
first drug, or substitute drug of different class
JNC-5 (1993) Diuretic or beta blocker
Alternative therapy: ACE inhibitor, CCB,
beta blocker, alpha blocker
Increase dose or substitute another drug, or add a
second agent from a different class
JNC-6 (1997) Uncomplicated hypertension: diuretic,
beta blocker
Specific indications for ACE inhibitor, ARB, alpha-beta
blocker, beta-blocker, CCB, and diuretic
Substitute another drug or add second agent
Low-dose combination therapy may be appropriate
initial therapy
ACE= angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB= angiotensin II receptor blocker; CCB= calcium channel blocker
SOURCE: MOSER 2002

15. Blood Pressure Classification JNC 7 2003
BP Classification SBP mmHg* DBP mmHg Lifestyle
Modification
Drug
Therapy**
Normal <120 and <80 Encourage No
Prehypertension 120-139 or 80-89 Yes No
Stage 1
Hypertension 140-159 or 90-99 Yes Single
Agent
Stage 2
Hypertension ≥ 160 or ≥ 100 Yes Combo
*Treatment determined by highest BP category; **Consider treatment for compelling
indications regardless of BP
JNC 7 Express. JAMA. 2003 Sep 10; 290(10):1314

16. Algorithm for Treatment of Hypertension
Not at Goal Blood Pressure (<140/90 mmHg)
(<130/80 mmHg for those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease)
Initial Drug Choices
With Compelling
Indications
Drug(s) for the compelling
indications
Other antihypertensive drugs
(diuretics, ACEI, ARB, BB, CCB)
as needed.
Lifestyle Modifications
Without Compelling
Stage 2 HTN (SBP >160 or DBP
>100 mmHg)
2-drug combination for most
(usually thiazide-type diuretic
and
ACEI, or ARB, or BB, or CCB)
Stage 1 HTN (SBP 140–159 or
DBP 90–99 mmHg)
Thiazide-type diuretics for most.
May consider ACEI, ARB, BB,
CCB, or combination.
Indications
Not at Goal
Blood Pressure
Optimize dosages or add additional drugs
until goal blood pressure is achieved.
Consider consultation with hypertension
JNC 7 Express. JAMA. 2003 Sep 10; 290(10):1314
specialist.

18. What to choose first?
 Initial antihypertensive therapy without
compelling indications
JNC 6: Diuretic or a beta-blocker
JNC 7: Thiazide-type diuretics
 Most outcome trials base antihypertensive
therapy on thiazides
JNC 7 Express. JAMA. 2003 Sep 10; 290(10):1314

19. "The Goal!”
Hypertension -PLUS-Diabetes
or Renal Disease
< 140/90 mmHg < 130/80 mmHg

22. Changes in 2014 Hypertension Guidelines

23.  This report takes a rigorous, evidence-based
approach to recommend treatment thresholds,
goals, and medications in the management of
hypertension in adults.
 Evidence was drawn from randomized controlled
trials, which represent the gold standard for
determining efficacy and effectiveness.
 Evidence quality and recommendations were
graded based on their effect on important
outcomes.

24. Questions Guiding the Evidence Review
This evidence-based hypertension guideline focuses on the panel’s 3
highest-Ranked questions related to high BP management .
1. In adults with hypertension, does initiating antihypertensive
pharmacologic therapy at specific BP thresholds improve health
outcomes? (how low should you go)
2. In adults with hypertension, does treatment with antihypertensive
pharmacologic therapy to a specified BP goal lead to improvements
in health outcomes? (when to initiate drug treatment)
3. In adults with hypertension, do various antihypertensive drugs or drug
classes differ in comparative benefits and harms on specific health
outcomes? (How do we get there?)
Nine recommendations are made reflecting these questions.

27.  Recommendation 1
In the general population aged 60 years or older, initiate
pharmacologic treatment to lower BP at systolic blood
pressure (SBP) of 150 mmHg or higher or diastolic blood
pressure (DBP) of 90mmHg or higher and treat to a goal SBP
lower than 150mmHg and goal DBP lower than 90mmHg.
 Recommendation 2
In the general population <60 years, initiate
pharmacologic treatment to lower BP at DBP 90mmHg and
treat to a goal DBP <90mmHg.
 Recommendation 3
In the general population <60 years, initiate
pharmacologic treatment to lower BP at SBP 140mmHg and
treat to a goal SBP <140mmHg.
2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

28.  Recommendation 4
In the population aged 18 years with chronic
kidney disease (CKD), initiate pharmacologic
treatment to lower BP at SBP 140mmHg or DBP
90mmHg and treat to goal SBP<140mmHg and goal
DBP<90mmHg.
 Recommendation 5
In the population aged 18years with diabetes,
initiate pharmacologic treatment to lower BP at SBP
140mmHg or DBP 90mmHg and treat to a goal SBP
<140mmHg and goal DBP <90mmHg.
2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

29.  Recommendation 6
In the general non-black population, including those with
diabetes, initial antihypertensive treatment should include a
thiazide-type diuretic, calcium channel blocker (CCB),
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI), or
angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).
 Recommendation 7
In the general black population, including those with
diabetes, initial antihypertensive treatment should include a
thiazide-type diuretic or CCB.
 Recommendation 8
In the population aged 18 years with CKD, initial (or add-on)
antihypertensive treatment should include an ACEI or
ARB to improve kidney outcomes. This applies to all CKD
patients with hypertension regardless of race or diabetes
status.
2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

30.  Recommendation 9
The main objective of hypertension treatment is to attain
and maintain goal BP. If goal BP is not reached within a month
of treatment, increase the dose of the initial drug or add a
second drug from one of the classes.
If goal BP cannot be reached with 2 drugs, add and titrate a
third drug from the list provided. Do not use an ACEI and an
ARB together in the same patient.
If goal BP cannot be reached using only the drugs in
recommendation 6 because of a contraindication or the need to
use more than 3 drugs to reach goal BP, antihypertensive drugs
from other classes can be used.
Referral to a hypertension specialist may be indicated for
patients in whom goal BP cannot be attained using the above
strategy or for the management of complicated patients for
whom additional clinical consultation is needed.
2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

31. 2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

32. 2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

33. 2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

34. 2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

35. 2014 Evidence Based Guideline for management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (JNC
8)

37. Limitations
 This evidence-based guideline for the management of
high BP in adults is not a comprehensive guideline and is
limited in scope because of the focused evidence review
to address the 3 specific questions .
 Clinicians often provide care for patients with numerous
comorbidities or other important issues related to
hypertension, but the decision was made to focus on 3
questions considered to be relevant to most physicians
and patients.

38. Limitations
 Treatment adherence and medication costs were
thought to be beyond the scope of this review, but
the panel acknowledges the importance of both
issues.
 The evidence review did not include observational
studies, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses, and
the panel did not conduct its own meta-analysis
based on prespecified inclusion criteria.

39. Limitations
 Clinical guidelines are at the intersection between
research evidence and clinical actions that can improve
patient outcomes.
 these recommendations are not a substitute for
clinical judgment, and decisions about care must
carefully consider and incorporate the clinical
characteristics and circumstances of each individual
patient.
 the algorithm will facilitate implementation and be
useful to busy clinicians

40. Comparison of Current Recommendations
With JNC 7 Guidelines
Topic JNC 7 2014 Hypertension guideline
Methodology Nonsystematic literature
review by expert committee
including a range of study
designs Recommendations
based on consensus
Initial systematic review by methodologists
restricted to RCT evidence
Subsequent review of RCT evidence and
recommendations by the panel according to
a standardized protocol
Definitions Defined hypertension and
prehypertension
Definitions of hypertension and
prehypertension not addressed, but
thresholds for pharmacologic treatment
were defined
Treatment
goals
Separate treatment goals
defined for “uncomplicated”
hypertension and for subsets
with various comorbid
conditions (diabetes and
CKD)
Similar treatment goals defined for all
hypertensive populations except when
evidence review supports different goals for
a particular subpopulation

41. Comparison of Current Recommendations
With JNC 7 Guidelines
Topic JNC 7 2014 Hypertension guideline
Drug
therapy
Recommended 5 classes to be
considered as initial therapy but
recommended thiazide-type diuretics
as initial therapy for most patients
without compelling indication for
another class
Specified particular antihypertensive
medication classes for patients with
compelling indications, ie, diabetes,
CKD, heart failure, myocardial
infarction, stroke, and high CVD risk
Included a comprehensive table of oral
antihypertensive drugs including
names and usual dose ranges
Recommended selection among 4
specific medication classes (ACEI
or ARB, CCB or diuretics) and doses
based on RCT evidence
Recommended specific medication
classes based on evidence review
for racial, CKD, and diabetic
subgroups
Panel created a table of drugs and
doses used in the outcome trials

42. Comparison of Current Recommendations
With JNC 7 Guidelines
Topic JNC 7 2014 Hypertension guideline
Scope of
topics
Addressed multiple issues (blood
pressure measurement methods,
patient evaluation components,
secondary hypertension, adherence
to regimens, resistant hypertension,
and hypertension in special
populations) based on literature
review and expert opinion
Evidence review of RCTs addressed
a limited number of questions,
those judged by the panel to be of
highest priority.
Review
process
prior to
publication
Reviewed by the National High Blood
Pressure Education Program
Coordinating Committee, a coalition of
39 major professional, public,
and voluntary organizations and 7
federal agencies
Reviewed by experts including
those affiliated with professional
and public organizations and
federal agencies; no official
sponsorship by any organization
should be inferred

45. Conclusion (my opinion)
•The BP for everyone will be <140/90 mmHg
• BP for those >60- <150/90 mmHg
• Combinations of RAS blockers with thiazide
diuretics or RAS blockers and dihydropyridine
CCBs are acceptable first line combos to get
BP to goal, if >20/10mmHg above goal

46. Thank You