Contact: Beth Casteel, bcasteel@acc.org, 202-375-6275

WASHINGTON and DALLAS (Feb 17, 2015) -

A multi-disciplinary writing panel led by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association has begun work on a new guideline for the management of hypertension to update 12-year-old recommendations.  Nine additional medical societies have signed on as partners in the effort.

The writing process will include the use of a separate evidence review committee that will develop a systematic review on specific critical questions, which will inform recommendations in the 2016 Guideline on the Management of Hypertension.

The document will update the 2003 guideline, officially the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, known as JNC 7, which was empaneled by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In 2013, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology assumed responsibility for leading the writing of updates for a suite of cardiovascular prevention guidelines formerly developed by NHLBI writing groups.

Partners in developing the new hypertension guideline are the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Geriatrics Society, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Hypertension, the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, the Association of Black Cardiologists, the National Medical Association, and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association.

About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is a 49,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit acc.org.

About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.

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