JNC 8 Guideline Highlights on Monitoring
The Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) provides evidence-based recommendations for hypertension management. While JNC 8 focuses primarily on treatment thresholds and medication choices, it also emphasizes ongoing monitoring to ensure blood pressure control and patient safety.
Monitoring Frequency:
- Initial Phase (after diagnosis or medication change) - Blood pressure should be checked monthly until the target blood pressure is reached.
- Maintenance phase (once controlled) - Follow-up visits can be scheduled every 3–6 months to ensure blood pressure remains within the target range.
- Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) - Strongly recommended to detect variability and improve accuracy. Patients are advised to measure BP daily or several times per week, especially in the morning and evening.
Target Blood Pressure Goals (per JNC 8):
-
Age ≥ 60 years (without diabetes or CKD)
Goal - <150/90 mmHg -
Age < 60 years, or any age with diabetes or chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Goal - <140/90 mmHg
Why regular monitoring matters?
- Treatment adjustment - Frequent checks allow timely changes in medication or lifestyle interventions.
- Risk reduction - Prevents complications such as stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage.
- Patient engagement - Encourages adherence and empowers patients to track progress.
MBH/PS