30 Year History of Hypertension

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a killer and is highly dangerous. It can ultimately
lead to heart failure, chronic kidney disease, stroke and other major vascular issues. It is a
primary ‘marker’ for heart disease.

Hypertension definition: >140 systolic and >90 diastolic (note: this has now been
reduced to 130/80).

Hypertension in USA: overall highest rates in Black population, lowest in Asian peoples.
In the USA, over 350,000 people have hypertension.

Control of hypertension (medications): Control of hypertension is POOR. Across all
ethnic groups, and globally, less than 50% of hypertension is controlled through treatment.

• White 51%
• Black 45%
• Hispanic 45%
• Asian 37%

Global hypertension numbers in age range 30-79 years, doubled from 1990 to 2019.

• 1990: 650 million people
• 2019: 1.28 billion people

The number of people with hypertension dropped in high-income countries and increased
in low to middle-income countries.

Hypertension between women and men – hypertension is not treated seriously enough..

• Undiagnosed: 41% of women, 51% of men.
• Untreated: 53% of women, 62% of men.

Improved treatment: treatment is improved through,

• telemonitoring (telehealth)
• text reminders from GPs for medication renewals and adherence
• combination therapy – all hypertension drugs in a single pill.

Source: a meta-study that involved 104 million people in 184 countries.