The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has reaffirmed its recommendation that all adults undergo hypertension screening, calling it “a major contributing risk factor to heart failure, heart attack, stroke and chronic kidney disease.”
The USPSTF first issued an “A” recommendation for such screening in 1996, and it has been updated and reaffirmed numerous times in the last 24 years. Looking at the issue yet again, the USPSTF “found no new substantial evidence that could change its recommendation.”
The latest draft recommendation, available here in full, provides additional detail related to how hypertension screening should occur.
“The USPSTF suggests annual screening for hypertension in adults age 40 years or older and for adults at increased risk for hypertension (such as persons with high-normal blood pressure, who are overweight or obese, or who are African American),” according to the document. “Screening less frequently (i.e., every 3 to 5 years) is appropriate for adults ages 18 to 39 years not at increased risk for hypertension and with a prior normal blood pressure reading.”
The USPSTF’s recommendation is available for public comment until July 20.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.