Mean systolic blood pressure has decreased over the past 50 years in all age groups of Japanese men and women, although mean diastolic blood pressure did not decrease in men.
Despite a 50-year decline in mean systolic blood pressure, hypertension remains highly prevalent and the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in Japan, highlighting the need for primary prevention.
Analyses of data from national surveys of the Japanese population have shown a clear decreasing tendency in mean systolic blood pressure (BP) level over the past 50 years in all age groups of men and women; however, mean diastolic BP level clearly did not decrease in men. Hypertension prevalence is high among older people and may increase in the future, especially in men aged ≥50 years. The treatment and control rates of hypertension are not sufficiently high, although they have been continuously improving. Recent epidemiological studies also showed that the burden of cardiovascular diseases and total mortality because of the adverse BP level of the nation is still the highest among other preventable risk factors. To overcome this epidemic, the first priority should be primary prevention of a lifetime increase in BP through lifestyle improvement. Lowering the distribution of BP in the whole population and maintaining BP at optimal levels contributes to the achievement of this goal.
Miura et al. (Tue,) conducted a review in Hypertension. High blood pressure vs. Optimal blood pressure was evaluated on Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure trends and hypertension prevalence. Mean systolic blood pressure has decreased over the past 50 years in all age groups of Japanese men and women, although mean diastolic blood pressure did not decrease in men.