Outpatient Management of Asymptomatic Elevated Blood Pressure

Approximately half of adults in the US are affected by hypertension, and there is wide variation in practice patterns among emergency physicians for managing asymptomatic elevated blood pressure. This clinical policy updates the 2013 ACEP policy by incorporating new evidence to guide emergency physicians on whether initiating antihypertensive medications at ED discharge is safe and effective.

Updates the 2013 clinical policy by incorporating new evidence that demonstrates the efficacy and safety of initiating antihypertensive medications from the ED. The previous policy discouraged routine intervention. This update does not revisit screening for target organ injury or the need for acute blood pressure lowering within the ED.