Products - Data Briefs - Number 48 - October 2010

NCHS Data Brief
Number 48, October 2010
Recent Trends in the Prevalence of High Blood Pressure and its Treatment and Control, 1999-2008

Sung Sug (Sarah) Yoon, Yechiam Ostchega, and Tatiana Louis

Key findings
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

•There was no significant change in the prevalence of high blood pressure among U.S. adults from 1999-2000 to 2007-2008. This was true for men and women, all age groups, and for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican-American adults.
•Among U.S. adults with high blood pressure, the percentage that was aware of the condition increased from 69.6% in 1999-2000 to 80.6% in 2007-2008.
•Among U.S. adults with high blood pressure, the percentage who were taking medication to lower their blood pressure increased from 1999-2000 through 2007-2008.
•The control of blood pressure increased among U.S. adults with high blood pressure from 1999-2000 through 2007-2008. Increases in control occurred for all subgroups of the population.

High blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors for cardiovascu-lar disease and stroke (1). This report evaluates the overall trends in age-adjusted high blood pressure prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control using the most recent 10 year NHANES data. It also examines these age-adjusted rates for hypertension by sex, age, and race and ethnicity.

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Products - Data Briefs - Number 48 - October 2010