Blood pressure limits in Hong Kong to be reviewed after American Heart Association announces new measurement
City’s undersecretary for food and health says there will be no immediate change as medical sector needs time to study US guideline closely
Hong Kong will not rush to adopt a new measurement of high blood pressure set by the American Heart Association, a health official has said.
“[We will] review the indicators of hypertension and look at the definition of other countries as well [as the United States],” Chui said on Tuesday. “The medical sector will need time to study it closely.”
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The US association said it recognised that complications “can occur at those lower numbers”.
The new standard means nearly half – 46 per cent – of the US population will be defined as having high blood pressure and need to receive treatment sooner.
Chui said he was unable to say how many more patients in Hong Kong would be diagnosed as having high blood pressure if the new standard was adopted or whether the medical system could cope with an increase in demand.
