Table 6 Examples of management options and their indications in the presence of the target condition

Target condition

Arterial hypertension is present

(≥ 140/90 mmHg)

The recommendation is outdated

(There was new peer-reviewed scientific evidence published)

Objective

To choose an appropriate management option in the presence of the target condition using the information gathered from staging

To choose an appropriate management option in the presence of the target condition using the information gathered from staging

Management option #1, when: indications

Advice on lifestyle changes, when:

Grade 1 blood pressure AND low to moderate cardiovascular risk profile without cardiovascular disease, renal disease, or hypertension-mediated organ damage^a

Update the recommendation, when:

New evidence is very likely cause changes in the strength of the recommendation OR new evidence is very likely cause changes in the direction of the recommendation OR new evidence indicates a new recommendation should be added OR new evidence indicates an existing recommendation should be removed^a

Management option #2, when: indications

Advice on lifestyle changes and drug prescription after 3–6 months, when:

Grade 1 blood pressure AND low to moderate cardiovascular risk profile without cardiovascular disease, renal disease, or hypertension-mediated organ damage AND blood pressure was not controlled after 3–6 months of lifestyle interventions^a

Do not update the recommendation, but reassess at a later point in time, when:

The new evidence is very unlikely or somewhat unlikely to cause changes in the strength or direction of the recommendation OR no new evidence was found OR a valid justification is provided to postpone an update^a

Management option #3, when: indications

Advice on lifestyle changes and immediate drug prescription, when:

(Grade 1 blood pressure AND high to very high cardiovascular risk profile with cardiovascular disease, renal disease, or hypertension-mediated organ damage)^a OR grade 2 blood pressure OR grade 3 blood pressure

Withdraw the recommendation, when:

The clinical field signals that guidance is no longer needed OR new evidence indicates that an intervention should be de-implemented^a OR registry data shows that the recommendations were fully implemented