RACGP seeks clearer guidance in proposed hypertension update
09 Nov 2026
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called for clearer recommendations as the Heart Foundation prepares to update Australia’s hypertension guidelines for the first time since 2016.
In its response to the draft guidelines for managing high blood pressure in adults, the college made eight recommendations covering heart health risk checks, treatment decisions and how the new guidance should be put into practice.
The proposed changes include screening for primary aldosteronism when hypertension is diagnosed, lowering treatment thresholds, starting patients on a combination of medicines and shortening the time between medication dose increases.
The draft also includes more detailed advice on lifestyle changes and care for priority populations.
The RACGP supports updating the guidelines to reflect current evidence and align with recommendations for preventing cardiovascular and kidney disease.
More than seven million Australian adults are estimated to have hypertension. High blood pressure is also a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke and dementia.
Professor Mark Morgan, Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care, said the updated recommendations could change how GPs diagnose and manage high blood pressure.
The college wants the guidelines to clearly distinguish between diagnosing hypertension and deciding when medication should begin. It warns that the current draft wording could suggest that everyone diagnosed with hypertension should automatically start medication.
The RACGP says medication would not generally be needed for younger adults without additional cardiovascular risk factors, unless their blood pressure is above 180 mmHg.
Professor Morgan said the aim was to prevent both overtreatment and undertreatment.
The college has also requested clearer advice on ongoing monitoring, including kidney function tests, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and checks for damage to other organs, particularly the eyes.
It says blood pressure management should be considered alongside a patient’s other health conditions and care needs rather than treated as a separate issue.
The submission also supports recognising priority populations, including transgender and gender-diverse people. However, the RACGP wants more practical advice on how GPs can provide appropriate care for these groups.
It welcomed specific guidance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, who are 1.3 times more likely to have high blood pressure than non-Indigenous Australians.
The college also recommends aligning the new guidelines with existing national resources, including the National Guide, to make them easier for GPs to use.
Professor Morgan highlighted the importance of practical implementation strategies, noting that new recommendations may require changes to established clinical routines and practice workflows.
The RACGP wants clinical guidance to be clear, specific and easy to apply during consultations.
The updated hypertension guidelines are expected to be published in 2027.
RACGP seeks clearer guidance in proposed hypertension update
Source: RACGP newsGP