Abstract
High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease, and a variety of other clinically important outcomes.1, 2, 3, 4 Results from the surveys described in this issue and elsewhere5 underscore a common finding that hypertension is both highly prevalent and insufficiently treated and controlled. Recognizing the differences in sampling and survey measurement techniques, the reported prevalence of hypertension (SBP/DBP ≥140/90 mmHg or treatment with antihypertensive medication) in adults exceeded 25% in all of the surveys reported in this issue. In Latvia, the prevalence of hypertension for 25–64-year-old adults in the general population was 46.1%.6 Control of hypertension with medication to an SBP/DBP <140/90 mmHg in the general population ranged from as low as 12% to a high of only 29%.7, 8, 9 Data from other parts of the world provide an equally distressing picture of what is (not) being accomplished in treatment and control of hypertension at the level of the general population.5, 10, 11 These data provide testimony to an urgent need for greater attention to the treatment and control of hypertension in populations around the world. This was the basis for a panel discussion at the International Society of Hypertension satellite conference The Epidemiology of Hypertension-Regional Differences in Treatment and Control. Panel participants included Drs P Whelton, S Sonkodi, DG Beevers, JG Fodor, H Elliot, R Cifkova, A Nissinen, A Javor, and there was active participation of other symposium attendees. The following summarizes key elements of the discussion and recommendations of the panel.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stamler J, Stamler R, Neaton JD . Blood pressure, systolic and diastolic, and cardiovascular risks US population data. Arch Intern Med 1993; 153: 598–615.
Klag MJ et al. Blood pressure and end-stage renal disease in men. N Engl J Med 1996; 334: 13–18.
Haider AW et al. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure as predictors of risk for congestive heart failure in the Framingham Heart Study. Ann Intern Med 2003; 138: 10–16.
Young JH et al. Blood pressure and decline in kidney function: findings from the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). J Am Soc Nephrol 2002; 13: 2776–2782.
Kearney PM WM, Reynolds K, Whelton PK, He J . Worldwide prevalence of hypertension: a systematic review. J Hypertens 2004; 22: 11–19.
Dzerve VBN et al. Prevalence and control of hypertension in Latvia. J Hum Hypertens 2004, in press.
Zdrojewski TSP et al. Arterial hypertension in Poland in 2002. J Hum Hypertens 2004, in press.
Cifkova RSZ et al. Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the Czech Republic. Results of two nationwide cross-sectional surveys in 1997–98 and 2000/01, Czech Post-MONICA. J Hum Hypertens 2004, in press.
Burt VL et al. Prevalence of hypertension in the US adult population. Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1991. Hypertension 1995; 25: 305–313.
Ibrahim MM et al. Cardiovascular risk factors in normotensive and hypertensive Egyptians. J Hypertens. 2001; 19: 1933–1940.
Gu D et al. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in china. Hypertension 2002; 40: 920–927.
Muntner PGD et al. For the InterASIA Collaborative Group. Factors associated with hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in a representative sample of the Chinese population. Hypertension 2004; 43: 1–8.
Barker WH, Mullooly JP, Linton KL . Trends in hypertension prevalence, treatment, and control: in a well-defined older population. Hypertension 1998; 31(1 Pt 2): 552–559.
Berlowitz DR et al. Inadequate management of blood pressure in a hypertensive population. N Engl J Med 1998; 339: 1957–1963.
Lloyd-Jones DM, Evans JC, Larson MG, Levy D . Treatment and control of hypertension in the community: a prospective analysis. Hypertension 2002; 40: 640–646.
He J et al. Factors associated with hypertension control in the general population of the United States. Arch Intern Med 2002; 162: 1051–1058.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whelton, P., Beevers, D. & Sonkodi, S. Strategies for improvement of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension: results of a panel discussion. J Hum Hypertens 18, 563–565 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001738
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001738
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide in Asian patients with essential hypertension
Advances in Therapy (2011)
-
The message for World Kidney Day 2009: hypertension and kidney disease— a marriage that should be prevented
Journal of Human Hypertension (2009)
-
The message for World Kidney Day 2009: hypertension and kidney disease: a marriage that should be prevented
Kidney International (2009)
-
The message of World Kidney Day 2009
Nature Reviews Nephrology (2009)
-
The message for World Kidney Day 2009: hypertension and kidney disease—a marriage that should be prevented
Pediatric Nephrology (2009)