Skip to main content

Classification of Hypertension

2017 Hypertension Classification - American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association
The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines recommend establishing blood pressure (BP) levels on the basis of the average of 2 to 3 readings on at least 2 different occasions. Adapted from Whelton PK, et al. (see below).
BP categorySBPDBP
Normal<120 mm Hgand<80 mm Hg
Elevated120-129 mm Hgand<80 mm Hg
Hypertension
Stage 1130-139 mm Hgor80-89 mm Hg
Stage 2≥140 mm Hgor≥90 mm Hg
2018 Hypertension Classification - European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension
Adapted from Williams B, et al. (see below).
BP categorySBPDBP
Optimal<120 mm Hgand<80 mm Hg
Normal120-129 mm Hgor/or both80-84 mm Hg
High Normal130-139 mm Hgor/or both85-89 mm Hg
Hypertension
Stage 1140-159 mm Hgor/or both90-99 mm Hg
Stage 2160-179 mm Hgor/or both100-109 mm Hg
Stage 3≥180 mm Hgor≥110 mm Hg
Isolated systolic hypertension≥140 mm Hgand≥90 mm Hg
2020 International Society of Hypertension
Adapted from Unger T, et al. (see below).
BP categorySBPDBP
Normal<130 mm Hgand<85 mm Hg
High Normal130-139 mm Hgor/or both85-89 mm Hg
Grade 1 Hypertension140-159 mm Hgor/or both90-99 mm Hg
Grade 2 Hypertension≥160 mm Hgor/or both≥100 mm Hg
Normal screening values of blood pressure measures
American College of Cardiology/American Heart AssociationEuropean Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension/International Society of Hypertension
Office BP<130/80 mm Hg<140/90 mm Hg
Home BP<130/80 mm Hg<135/85 mm Hg
24 hr ambulatory<125/75 mm Hg<130/80 mm Hg
Awake ambulatory<130/80 mm Hg<135/85 mm Hg
Sleep ambulatory<110/65 mm Hg<120/70 mm Hg

Other nomenclature used when describing blood pressure#

  • mid-blood pressure = 1/2 SBP+1/2 DBP;
  • mean arterial pressure = 1/3 SBP+2/3 DBP;
  • pulse pressure = SBP−DBP.

Related Pages#

References/Websites#