Despite the benefits of antihypertensive therapy, approximately 40% of hypertensive individuals are untreated and 65% do not have their blood pressure controlled to 140/90 mm Hg.
Despite the known benefits of antihypertensive therapy, a large proportion of hypertensive individuals in the United States remain untreated or have uncontrolled blood pressure.
T he benefits of antihypertensive therapy in reducing car- diovascular complications have been impressive. Several clinical trials in hypertension have shown that reduction of blood pressure is associated with significant decreases in the incidence of stroke, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and renal failure, irrespective of age, gender, race or ethnicity, type of antihypertensive used, or severity of hypertension. 1 Nevertheless, control of hypertension remains unsatisfactory in the United States and throughout the world. Recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate that approximately 40% of hypertensive individuals are untreated, and 65% do not have their hypertension controlled to a blood pressure level of 140/ 90 mm Hg. 2 Although control rates have improved in the past several years, the total number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension has actually increased because of the rise in hypertension prevalence during this period (Figure).
Aram V. Chobanian (Tue,) conducted a review in Hypertension. Antihypertensive therapy was evaluated. Despite the benefits of antihypertensive therapy, approximately 40% of hypertensive individuals are untreated and 65% do not have their blood pressure controlled to 140/90 mm Hg.