 |
 |
|
Home |
Current Issue |
Past Issues |
In the Clinic |
ACP Journal Club |
CME |
Collections |
Audio/Video |
Mobile |
Subscribe |
Tools |
Help |
ACP Online
|
4 December 2007 | Volume 147 Issue 11 | Pages 787-791
Background: High blood pressure is common, and screening is a well-established evidence-based standard of current medical practice.
Purpose: To perform a literature search for new, substantial evidence on screening for high blood pressure that would inform the reaffirmation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation on screening for high blood pressure.
Data Sources: The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched. The searches were limited to English-language articles on studies of adult humans (age >18 years) that were published between 1 October 2001 and 31 March 2006 in core clinical journals.
Study Selection: For the literature on benefits, meta-analyses; systematic reviews; and randomized, controlled trials were included. For harms, meta-analyses; systematic reviews; randomized, controlled trials; cohort studies; case–control studies; and case series of large, multisite databases were included. Two reviewers independently reviewed titles, abstracts, and full articles for inclusion.
Data Extraction: No new evidence was found on benefits or harms of screening. Two reviewers extracted data from studies on the harms of early treatment, including adverse effects of drug therapy and adverse quality-of-life outcomes.
Data Synthesis: No new evidence was found for the benefits of screening for high blood pressure. New evidence on the harms of treatment of early hypertension shows that pharmacologic therapy is associated with common side effects; serious adverse events are uncommon.
Limitations: The nonsystematic search may have missed some smaller studies on the benefits and harms of screening and treatment for high blood pressure.
Conclusion: No new evidence was found on the benefits of screening. Pharmacotherapy for early hypertension is associated with common side effects.
Author and Article Information
From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, Maryland.
Disclaimer: The authors of this article are responsible for its contents, including any clinical or treatment recommendations. No statement in this article should be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Financial Support: The USPSTF is an independent, voluntary body, The U.S. Congress mandates that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality support the operations of the USPSTF.
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.
Requests for Single Reprints: Reprints are available from the USPSTF Web site (http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov).
Current Author Addresses: Drs. Wolff and Miller: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Program, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850. CLINICAL GUIDELINES
Evidence for the Reaffirmation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation on Screening for High Blood Pressure
Related articles in Annals:
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  P. Charney Nutrition Screening vs Nutrition Assessment: How Do They Differ? Nutr Clin Pract, August 1, 2008; 23(4): 366 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Screening for Hypertension Journal Watch (General), January 8, 2008; 2008(108): 2 - 2. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Screening for High Blood Pressure: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement Ann Intern Med, December 4, 2007; 147(11): 783 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
Read all Rapid Responses
Article
