This classification equates with that of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and that of World Health Organization/ International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH), and is based on clinic blood pressure values. If systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure fall into different categories, the higher value should be taken for classification.

References:

1. Duerden MG; British Hypertension Society. Guidelines from the British Hypertension Society: BHS is set to bankrupt NHS. BMJ. 2004 Sep 4;329(7465):569-70 [Medline]
2. Williams B, Poulter NR, Brown MJ, Davis M, McInnes GT, Potter JF, Sever PS, Thom SM; BHS guidelines working party, for the British Hypertension Society. British Hypertension Society guidelines for hypertension management 2004 (BHS-IV): summary. BMJ. 2004 Mar 13;328(7440):634-40. [Medline]

Created: April 13, 2005