Screenings if you have high blood pressure
Once you have high blood pressure, the checks change: kidney tests, blood sugar and cholesterol are checked regularly, and home readings help track it. Here is what current guidelines say and how often. Your doctor sets your own schedule. (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026) (review of the 2025 guideline)
The checklist
The points below from the 2025 AHA/ACC high blood pressure guideline are cited through two peer-reviewed summaries on PMC. The 2026 AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN guideline counts high blood pressure as stage 2 of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome and sets the yearly checks. (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026)
| Check | When or how often |
|---|---|
| Kidney tests: eGFR and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) | At diagnosis, UACR is now part of the routine first tests (ERBP commentary, 2026); then both at least once a year (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026) |
| Blood sugar (glycemia) | At least once a year (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026) |
| Cholesterol (lipids) | At least once a year (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026) |
| Electrocardiogram (ECG) | Part of the routine first evaluation, with standard laboratory tests (review of the 2025 guideline) |
| Blood pressure in the office | At least once a year (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026) |
| Home or out-of-office readings | Advised to confirm the diagnosis (unless office readings are 160/100 or higher) and to check how treatment works (ERBP commentary, 2026) |
If you measure at home, use an approved home blood pressure device so the readings are correct. (NHLBI) Your doctor may test more or less often depending on your results and other conditions. What the kidney numbers mean: kidney test results in plain words.
How this differs from blood pressure screening
The USPSTF recommendation is a screening for adults 18 and older who do not know they have high blood pressure: every year from 40 or at increased risk, every 3 to 5 years at 18 to 39 otherwise. (USPSTF, 2021) See blood pressure screening: who and how often. Once high blood pressure is diagnosed, the checklist above applies instead.
Questions people ask
What tests should someone with high blood pressure have?
Reviews of the 2025 AHA/ACC guideline say the first evaluation includes standard laboratory tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG), and now a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) as well as eGFR. After that, the 2026 AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN guideline advises checking cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure at least once a year, and eGFR with UACR at least once a year. (review of the 2025 guideline) (ERBP commentary, 2026) (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026)
How often should kidney function be checked with high blood pressure?
The 2026 AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN guideline advises both eGFR and UACR at least once a year for adults with high blood pressure (stage 2 and above in its staging). The NIDDK says to ask your health care provider how often. (AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN, 2026) (NIDDK)
Should I check my blood pressure at home?
Home or other out-of-office readings help confirm the diagnosis and show how treatment is working, according to the 2025 guideline as summarized in a 2026 commentary. The NHLBI says to use an approved home blood pressure device. (ERBP commentary, 2026) (NHLBI)
Is this the same as blood pressure screening?
No. The USPSTF screening is for adults 18 and older who do not know they have high blood pressure. Once you have a diagnosis, the regular checks on this page take over. Your doctor decides the details. (USPSTF, 2021)
Related
- ECG at a checkup: what the test is like and what results mean
- Kidney test results: eGFR and uACR explained
- Blood pressure screening: who and how often
- Blood pressure readings: what your numbers mean
- Kidney disease screening
- Sleep apnea screening: STOP-Bang, Epworth and AHI
- Screenings if you have diabetes
- Know your numbers: A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol