What Changes we may Expect in 2010 Hypertension Diagnosis and Management: Insights from the European Update Document

In 2009, the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) has developed a document updating the recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension issued in 2007. The main elements of novelty refer to the assessment of organ damage, the blood pressure thresholds for treatment initiation as well as the blood pressure goals, the use of drug combination treatment and the therapeutic intervention in specific clinical conditions. This paper will review the novelties of the ESH update document and the implications of the “new guidelines” for current clinical practice.