Management of high blood pressure: The first Iranian high blood pressure guideline (summary)

Hypertension (HTN) is a major cause of disability and is known as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is also and recognized as a leading risk factor for death in the world, causing an estimated 7.5 million deaths per year (13 of all deaths).1 The current national picture of Iran suggests a high prevalence of HTN in 17.8 of adults aged 25-64 years and 12.7 in children and adolescents.2,4 According to available data from Iran, awareness, treatment, and control of HTN are generally unsatisfactory. Many studies have estimated the awareness and treatment of HTN in Iranians to be approximately 50 and 35, respectively, while the control rate of HTN is around 1.3,4 However, strategies such education of patients, their families, and health professionals as well as the implementation of the national guidelines can increase the awareness and improve control levels among Iranian hypertensives