A study published on July 11 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) found that the prevalence of hypertension remained stable from 1999 to 2010, and there were no improvements in awareness, management or control from 2007 to 2010.

 

Data from previous national surveys indicate a decreasing trend in hypertension prevalence, along with improvements in awareness, management and control. In the study, the authors aimed to "quantify the trends in blood pressure (BP), and the prevalence, awareness, management and control of hypertension in U.S. adults" and to "assess the efficacy of current clinical measures in diagnosing and adequately treating hypertensive patients." Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the study looked at the BP measurements of 28,995 U.S. male and females over 20 years of age.

Additional Resources Full Study Journal Scan  Million Hearts Initiative  CardioSmart for Your Patients: Living With High Blood Pressure

Results showed that "in 2009 to 2010, the prevalence of hypertension was among 30.5 percent among men and 28.5 percent among women. The hypertension awareness rate was 69.7 percent among men and 80.7 percent among women. The hypertension control rate was 40.3 percent for men and 56.3 percent for women."

 

The authors also found that, "from 1999 to 2010, the prevalence of hypertension remained stable. Although hypertension awareness, management, and control improved, the overall rates remained poor (74.0 percent for awareness, 71.6 percent for management, 46.5 percent for control, and 64.4 percent for control in management); worse still, no improvement was shown from 2007 to 2010." Additionally, "men, Mexican Americans, and 20 to 39 year olds had lower hypertension awareness, management, and control rates."

Based on their findings, the authors note that "improving diet and lifestyle for the entire population might have some impact on improving hypertension prevention and help to reverse the adverse trend in hypertension prevalence." They also suggest implementing strategies to "increase hypertension detection, management, and control among men, Mexican Americans, and young people, and to increase control of hypertension among older people and minority groups receiving hypertension treatment."

"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Million Hearts initiative, of which the ACC is a partner, started this past fall and includes blood pressure management as one of their main goals," said William J. Oetgen, MD, FACC, senior vice president for Science and Quality of the ACC. "Initiatives like these and others including CardioSmart, ACC’s patient education initiative, are already in place to help reverse these trends, so it is our hope we see these efforts come to fruition over the next few years."

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