Hypertension and the eye: applications of the Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.

BACKGROUND

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, kidney disease, and stroke. More people are aware of treating and controlling their blood pressure, but overall control rates are low and the incidence of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality remains high.

METHODS

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute released The Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VI) as the most recent national guideline to hypertension control for primary care clinicians.

RESULTS

JNC VI identifies 10 hypertension-related public health challenges: (1) prevent the rise of blood pressure; (2) decrease prevalence of hypertension; (3) increase awareness and detection of hypertension; (4) improve control of hypertension; (5) reduce cardiovascular risks; (6) increase recognition of importance of isolated systolic hypertension; (7) improve recognition of importance of high-normal blood pressure; (8) reduce ethnic, socioeconomic, and regional variations; (9) improve treatment; and (10) enhance community programs.

CONCLUSIONS

The eye is a target organ and retinopathy is a frequent complication--as well as a prognostic indicator--of sustained hypertension. As part of a multidisciplinary team approach, the optometrist assumes a significant role in the prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure and its associated morbidities.