Treatment of mild hypertension and the problem of compliance.

The results of the majority of the on-going large-scale studies in patients with hypertension underline the importance of lowering diastolic blood pressure to levels below 90 mmHg and the benefits, in terms of reduced morbidity and mortality, of the treatment even of those with mild hypertension. Because the patient with mild hypertension is generally asymptomatic, treatment must not only be effective but also have minimal side-effects and a simple regimen to ensure patient compliance. The step-care approach to the treatment of such patients and the drugs of choice are reviewed briefly.