Vl. Burt et al., PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION IN THE US ADULT-POPULATION - RESULTS FROM THE 3RD NATIONAL-HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY, 1988-1991, Hypertension, 25(3), 1995, pp. 305-313
The purpose of this study was to estimate the current prevalence and d
istribution of hypertension and to determine the status of hypertensio
n awareness, treatment, and control in the US adult population. The st
udy used a cross-sectional survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalize
d population of the United States, including an in-home interview and
a clinic examination, each of which included measurement of blood pres
sure. Data for 9901 participants 18 years of age and older from phase
1 of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, colle
cted from 1988 through 1991, were used. Twenty-four percent of the US
adult population representing 43 186 000 persons had hypertension. The
age-adjusted prevalence in the non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white
, and Mexican American populations was 32.4%, 23.3%, and 22.6%, respec
tively. Overall, two thirds of the population with hypertension were a
ware of their diagnosis (69%), and a majority were taking prescribed m
edication (53%). Only one third of Mexican Americans with hypertension
were being treated (35%), and only 14% achieved control in contrast t
o 25% and 24% of the non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white populat
ions with hypertension, respectively. Almost 13 million adults classif
ied as being normotensive reported being told on one or more occasions
that they had hypertension; 51% of this group reported current adhere
nce to lifestyle changes to control their hypertension. Hypertension c
ontinues to be a common finding in the general population. Awareness,
treatment, and control of hypertension have improved substantially sin
ce the 1976-1980 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey but
continue to be suboptimal, especially in Mexican Americans. Considerat
ion should be given to revision of the criteria for classification of
hypertension to reflect the widespread use of lifestyle modification f
or treatment of hypertension.