(Yicai Global) Nov. 15 -- China has lowered the diagnostic threshold for adult hypertension, or high blood pressure, a move that will likely double the number of people with the condition, according to a cardiovascular expert.

The threshold -- changed yesterday to 130/80 millimeters of mercury from 140/90 mm Hg -- may   increase the number of high blood pressure patients to 500 million from 250 million, said Zhang Yi, deputy chief physician of the cardiology department at Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital.

Setting the systolic blood pressure target below 130 mm Hg can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower treatment costs for elderly hypertensive patients, according to a study published by Prof. Cai Jun at Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Zhang pointed to a potential problem with the revised criteria: “If so many people are diagnosed with hypertension, will China’s limited hypertension prevention and control resources be enough to treat so many high blood pressure patients?”

Many people have blood pressure of between 130 mm Hg and 139 mm Hg and from 80 mm Hg to 89 mm Hg, and their inclusion in the prevention and control of hypertension needs to be supported by medical evidence, said Prof. Liu Lisheng, a pioneer in cardiovascular research and a world-renowned expert in the field of high blood pressure.

Side-effects can occur when taking any antihypertensive drug, Liu said.

More attention should be given to patients with blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg, Zhang noted. China should raise awareness about the health risks associated with high blood pressure, improve its diagnostic hierarchy and treatment mechanism, and focus on information-based chronic disease management through education and national testing, he said.

Editor: Martin Kadiev