CHANGES IN THE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND THEIR IMPACTS ON PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/aurumpub.061-020Keywords:
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Diagnosis, Hypertension, Prevalence, Primary Health CareAbstract
Systemic arterial hypertension is one of the major public health challenges worldwide due to its high prevalence and its association with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal diseases. In recent years, updates to national and international guidelines have introduced changes in the diagnostic criteria for hypertension, influencing case identification and clinical management within Primary Health Care. This study aimed to analyze changes in the diagnostic criteria for arterial hypertension and their impacts on disease prevalence and clinical practice in Primary Health Care. An integrative literature review was conducted using the SciELO, PubMed, Latindex, and Scopus databases, including publications in Portuguese and English published between 2022 and 2026. A total of 14 studies addressing guideline updates, blood pressure monitoring methods, and implications for clinical practice were included. The findings revealed a trend toward harmonization of international recommendations, greater emphasis on cardiovascular risk stratification, and increased use of ambulatory and home blood pressure monitoring. Challenges related to professional training, diagnostic inertia, and healthcare service organization were also identified. It is concluded that changes in diagnostic criteria contribute to greater accuracy in identifying individuals at cardiovascular risk, while requiring strengthened care strategies, continuous monitoring, and improved management practices within Primary Health Care settings.
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