British Hypertension Society guidelines for hypertension management 1999: summary

Use non-pharmacological measures in all hypertensive and borderline hypertensive people. Initiate antihypertensive drug treatment in people with sustained systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg or sustained diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHG. Decide on treatment in people with sustained systolic blood pressure between 140 and 159 mmHg or sustained diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 99 mmHg according to the presence or absence of target organ damage, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or a 10 year coronary heart disease risk ≥ 15% according to the Joint British Societies coronary heart disease risk assessment programme or risk chart. Optimal blood pressure treatment targets are systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 85 mmHg; the minimum acceptable level of control (audit standard) recommended is < 150/< 90 mmHg. In the absence of contraindications or compelling indications for other antihypertensive agents, low dose thiazide diuretics or β blockers are preferred as first line treatment for the majority of hypertensive people; compelling indications and contraindications for all antihypertensive drug classes are specified. Other drugs that reduce cardiovascular risk must also be considered; these include aspirin and statins.