2025 Hypertension Guideline Updates

This 1 credit live course provides healthcare professionals with a comprehensive review of the 2025 AHA/ACC/Multi-Society Guidelines on High Blood Pressure. Learners will explore the updated diagnostic criteria, evidence-based blood pressure goals, and risk-stratified treatment approaches, including the transition from the ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus to the PREVENT-CVD Calculator. The course addresses initial and combination antihypertensive pharmacotherapy, strategies to improve medication adherence, and the management of resistant hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and hypertension in pregnancy. Learners will then apply this guideline content to clinical case scenarios.

Target Audience

Pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals committed to improving cardiovascular health outcomes.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the prevalence, significance, and public health impact of hypertension.  
  2. Apply the 2025 blood pressure categories and diagnostic criteria, including out-of-office measurement protocols, to classify and confirm hypertension in clinical settings. 
  3. Identify appropriate blood pressure treatment goals using the PREVENT-CVD Calculator and patient-specific cardiovascular risk factors. 
  4. Describe evidence-based antihypertensive treatment options and the factors that guide individualized pharmacotherapy decisions across patient comorbidities including CKD, diabetes, and heart failure. 
  5. Develop evidence-based management strategies for resistant hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and hypertension in pregnancy. 
  6. Apply current guideline recommendations within a team-based framework to patient case scenarios requiring clinical decision-making across diverse presentations and populations. 

Additional Information

AttachmentSize
File CDPH_Hypertension_Dixon_Final_Post-recording.pptx5.42 MB
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Nursing Hours
  • 1.00 IPCE
Course opens: 
07/14/2026
Course expires: 
07/15/2027

Dave Dixon

Dr. Dave Dixon is the Nancy and Ronald McFarlane Professor of Pharmacy and Chair of the Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. He also holds a joint appointment as Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the VCU School of Medicine. 

Dr. Dixon’s clinical and research work focuses on identifying and addressing gaps in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, with particular emphasis on hypertension and dyslipidemia. He has served on multiple writing groups for clinical practice guidelines and scientific statements and has authored nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications. 

Dr. Dixon is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the National Lipid Association.

Relevant Financial Relationships

Dave Dixon and the course planners have no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Anti-discrimination Policy

Dave Dixon and course planners have agreed to our anti-discrimination policy that prohibits the inclusion of discriminatory language, graphics, or references on the basis of race, gender identity, age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion.

PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS

Innovation Horizons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Innovation Horizons designates this enduring material for:

ACPE Pharmacist: (1.0 Contact Hour) UAN:   JA4008411-0000-26-007-L01-P

ACPE Pharmacy Technician: (1.0 Contact Hour) UAN:  JA4008411-0000-26-007-L01-T

PHYSICIANS – AMA CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

Innovation Horizons designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

NURSES – ANCC CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

Innovation Horizons designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 ANCC contact hours. Nursing contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of program components based upon documented attendance and completion of evaluation materials

JOINT ACCREDITATION

In support of improving patient care, Innovation Horizons is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

IPCE CREDITS

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Nursing Hours
  • 1.00 IPCE
Please login or register to take this course.