Context

Increased arterial blood pressure (BP) is an established and modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factor. Consequently, the decision on antihypertensive treatment has been in the focus of changing recommendations over the past decades, initially with higher accepted BP thresholds than those recommended by modern guidelines. However, recently published consensus statements have indicated that treatment goals should be less ambitious, as ‘the lower the better’ might not be applicable for ages >60 years and in uncomplicated hypertension.1 ,2 Moreover, the traditional definition of increased BP that warrants pharmacological treatment has been questioned since studies have suggested that elevated night-time …