New category “elevated blood pressure” – what are the therapeutic implications?

According to the guideline of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), which was updated last year, blood pressure values of 120-139/70-89 mmHg are considered “raised blood pressure”. Drug therapy is only recommended in cases of manifest hypertension, unless there is an increased cardiovascular risk or events have already occurred. In elderly people, frailty should be given more weight than age. Another therapy-relevant principle is “ALARA” (as low as reasonably possible).