The definition of maximally tolerated blood pressure treatment

The new General Medical Services contract has introduced the term ‘maximally tolerated blood pressure treatment’, which it defines as a cut-off point at which a doctor might advise the patient to accept the current blood pressure level. Whilst this is a sensible idea, the contract does not give any guidance as to how the doctor should decide when that point has been reached. In this article the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society considers the issue, looking at available evidence, and publishes a consensus statement on the definition for maximally tolerated blood pressure treatment.