Stage 1 hypertension: SBP 140-159 or DBP 90-99 Stage 2 hypertension: SBP ≥160 or DBP ≥100 For patients age 50 or older, elevated SBP is a stronger cardiovascular risk factor than elevated DBP.

Elevated blood pressure is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Numerous clinical practice guidelines for blood pressure coexist, emanating from European,1,2 North American,3 ...

In one cohort, hypertension was defined using International Classification of Diseases codes, which may lack granularity and not align with contemporary guidelines. The findings were not validated ...