Hypertension management by family physicians: is it time to pat ourselves on the back?

Hypertension is the number 1 risk factor for mortality in the world1 and an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke.2,3 Hypertension is typically diagnosed and managed in the outpatient setting and is one of the most common reasons to visit a family physician.4 With almost a quarter of the adult population and almost half of people aged 50 years and older having hypertension, the burden of this disease is undeniably high.5 As treatment of hypertension is associated with a 20% to 25% reduction in cardiovascular events,6 getting control of this generally asymptomatic disease might be one of the most important preventive measures that family physicians can take.