Hypertension

Hypertension is the most commonly seen condition in adult primary care practices. It affects one in three American adults over the age of 18, with women and men being nearly equally affected [1]. Data from the Framingham Heart Study have shown that patients who are normotensive at 55 years old still have a 90 % lifetime risk for developing hypertension [2]. Fortunately, treatment of hypertension reduces the risk of heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, and cognitive decline. Left untreated, hypertension may lead to vascular and renal damage, which with time could become treatment resistant [3]. The percentage of people who know they have hypertension, who are treated, and who have controlled blood pressure (BP) has increased. From 2005 to 2010, nearly 82 % of adults with hypertension were aware of their status (up from 75 % in prior years), and approximately 75 % were taking medication. Nearly 53 % of these patients had controlled BP [4, 5].

Duke Scholars

Author Anthony Joseph Viera Family Medicine and Community Health