Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management

Resource impact

No significant resource impact is anticipated

The NICE guideline on hypertension in adults was partially updated in March 2022.

The update reviewed the evidence on blood pressure targets for people with hypertension and cardiovascular disease and re-assessed evidence on antihypertensive drug treatment from the previous update, to cover people with cardiovascular disease.

There were 2 new recommendations made on blood pressure targets and on choosing antihypertensive drug treatment for people with cardiovascular disease.

We do not expect the new recommendations to have a significant impact on resources; that is:

• the resource impact of implementing any single guideline recommendation in England will be less than £1 million per year (or approximately £1,800 per 100,000 population, based on a population for England of 56.3 million people) and
• the resource impact of implementing the whole guideline in England will be less than £5 million per year (or approximately £9,000 per 100,000 population, based on a population for England of 56.3 million people).

This is because the new recommendations largely reflect current practice and so there should not be a significant change in practice or increase in resource use.

Services for adults with hypertension are commissioned by integrated care systems. Providers are primary care and NHS hospital trusts.