Continuing advances in hypertension: The Joint National Committee's Fifth Report

This report focuses on the new features of the Joint National Committee's most recent report (JNC-5) on the detection, evaluation and treatment of hypertension. It highlights the new classification of hypertension based on stages of the disease, and the recent demonstration that primary prevention of hypertension is feasible and practicable, and it provides a rationale for its recommendations on the selection of initial therapy for the treatment of hypertension. The latter discussion also provides a reasoned response to certain related issues that have engendered controversy relating to these recommendations.