Evaluation of hypertension

Last reviewed: 3 Apr 2025
Last updated: 10 Dec 2024

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Essential hypertension
  • Renal artery stenosis
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Obstructive uropathy
  • Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome
  • Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
Full details

Uncommon

  • Coarctation of aorta
  • Preeclampsia
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Polycystic kidney disease
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Hyperaldosteronism
  • Cushing disease/syndrome
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Chronic alcohol excess
  • Medication
  • Illicit drug use
  • "White-coat hypertension"
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Sunil Nadar, MD, FRCP, CCT, FESC, FACC

Consultant Cardiologist

Dudley Group of hospitals NHS trust

Dudley

UK

Disclosures

SN is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Gregory Y.H. Lip, MD, FRCP, DFM, FACC, FESC, FEHRA

Price-Evans Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine

University of Liverpool

Senior Investigator

National Institute for Health Research

UK

Distinguished Professor

Faculty of Medicine

Aalborg University

Denmark

Adjunct Professor

Yonsei University

Seoul

South Korea

Disclosures

GYHL is a consultant and speaker for BMS/Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Anthos. No fees are received personally. GYHL is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Peer reviewers

Rod Jackson, MD, PhD

Professor of Epidemiology

Head of the Section of Epidemiology & Biostatistics

School of Population Health

University of Auckland

Auckland

New Zealand

Disclosures

RJ declares that he has no competing interests.

Alan Wilkinson, MD, FRCP

Professor of Medicine

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Los Angeles

CA

Disclosures

AW declares that he has no competing interests. Unfortunately we have since been made aware that Professor Wilkinson is deceased.

Michael Schachter, MB, BSc, FRCP

Department of Clinical Pharmacology

St Mary’s Hospital

Imperial College

London

UK

Disclosures

MS declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 May 15;71(19):e127-248. Abstract

James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8). JAMA. 2014 Feb 5;311(5):507-20.Full text  Abstract

McEvoy JW, McCarthy CP, Bruno RM, et al. 2024 ESC guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension. Eur Heart J. 2024 Oct 7;45(38):3912-4018.Full text

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management. Nov 2023 [internet publication].Full text

Waguespack DR, Dwyer JP. Assessment of blood pressure: techniques and implications from clinical trials. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2019 Mar;26(2):87-91. Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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