adult screening programme

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Hypertension (adult)

This recommendation has been archived and is no longer regularly reviewed by the UK NSC.

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Hypertension often causes no symptoms or immediate problems. But it is a major risk factor for developing a serious cardiovascular disease, such as a stroke or heart disease.

Read more about hypertension on the NHS website.

Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in February 2026, population screening for hypertension is not recommended. This is because:

1. It is unclear whether a population screening programme for hypertension would improve health outcomes, as no population-based trial on hypertension screening was identified. Only one community-based multi-component intervention study showed the intervention reduced cardiovascular related hospital admissions, but it is unclear which part of the intervention led to this benefit.

2. Evidence on treatment for screen-detected hypertension is very limited. No studies compared outcomes for people identified through screening with those identified through other routes; and no studies compared treatment with no treatment, likely due to ethical reasons. One retrospective cohort study suggested that early treatment may be beneficial, however findings may not apply to the UK due to differences in care pathways and population.

3. Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so it is more useful to consider it as part of broader cardiovascular risk screening than on its own.

The UK NSC has archived hypertension as a separate topic and no longer reviews it regularly. Instead, hypertension is considered within current and future evidence reviews on vascular risk.

To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.

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