Question

A 60-year-old non-Indigenous man attends for cardiovascular risk assessment. He has persistent blood pressures around 160/98 mmHg on repeated measurements over 3 months despite lifestyle measures, and his calculated 5-year CVD risk is 12%. According to the Australian hypertension guideline, what is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Commence antihypertensive pharmacotherapy aiming for a target blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg

Answer

Continue lifestyle measures alone and review in 12 months

Answer

Delay pharmacotherapy until systolic blood pressure exceeds 180 mmHg

Answer

Start aspirin only without blood pressure-lowering drugs

Answer

Commence a beta blocker as first-line therapy in the absence of other indications

Practice question