The Increasing Number of Adults with High Blood Pressure
A new analysis* of the prevalence of high blood pressure in the US shows a striking
increase over the last 10 years in the number of adults with this condition. According to this study, there are about
65 million hypertensive adults in this country or about a third of US adults (age 18 and older). This number, based on
survey and examination data from 1999 to 2000, contrasts with data from 1988 - 1994 which found that about 50
million adults had hypertension. The data came from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES). The new analysis shows that the proportion of the population with hypertension
grew by about 8 percent in the last decade. In terms of absolute numbers, the study found a 30 percent increase in
the total number of adults with hypertension. Read more...
