Updates in the 2025 AHA/ACC Hypertension Guideline.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hypertension remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the United States. The 2025 American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults provides the first major update since 2017. It reveals new evidence in the diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment of hypertension. This review summarizes key updates, contrasts them with prior recommendations, and discusses implications for clinical practice. RECENT FINDINGS: The 2025 AHA/ACC Hypertension Guideline introduces several major updates that reshape risk assessment, diagnosis, and treatment strategy. Adoption of the PREVENT risk calculator replaces the pooled cohort equations, improving cardiovascular risk estimation by incorporating renal function, statin use, and social drivers of health. Screening for primary aldosteronism is expanded to all patients with stage 2 or resistant hypertension, addressing underdiagnosis of this secondary cause. Renal denervation is introduced as an adjunctive option for select patients with resistant hypertension. The guideline also provides expanded recommendations for special populations, including those with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, pregnancy, and neurologic disorders. Enhanced emphasis on home blood pressure monitoring, lifestyle modification, and team-based care highlights the growing importance of patient engagement and coordinated care. The 2025 AHA/ACC Hypertension Guideline marks a pivotal shift toward risk-based, patient-centered hypertension management. It reinforces the need for tailored strategies that bridge clinical practice and population health. Effective implementation will depend on interdisciplinary collaboration and equitable access to preventative and therapeutic resources.