|EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
Tuesday, February 26, 2002
4:00 p.m. EST
NHLBI Communications Office
NHLBI Study Shows Vast Majority Of Middle-Aged Americans At Risk Of Developing Hypertension
- Nearly 85 percent of the participants developed Stage I or greater hypertension over 20-25 years. Thirty-five to 44 percent of them went on to develop Stage II or greater hypertension.
- For women, there were no differences in lifetime risk between the earlier and later time periods. By contrast, men had a higher lifetime risk of developing hypertension during the later time period.
- Both men and women had a greater lifetime risk of receiving a hypertension medication in the more recent time period.
- The risk of developing Stage II or greater hypertension (160/100 mm Hg or higher) decreased for both men and women in the more recent time period.
"The trends over time may be due in part to an increase in obesity among the men in the study," said Vasan. "Their average body mass index rose between the two periods. Women in the study did not have such a rise in body mass index."
He added that, "The decrease in the lifetime risk of developing Stage II or greater hypertension for both men and women probably resulted from an increased use of hypertension lowering drugs through the years."
Vasan cautions that the study was not ethnically diverse. He stresses that the lifetime risk of developing hypertension varies among individuals and depends on the presence of risk factors.
"Americans should see their doctor and have their blood pressure checked," Vasan said. "They can talk about their risk factors and the steps they can take to reduce their risk of hypertension. Americans don't necessarily have to develop high blood pressure as they get older. What they have to do is take preventive action."
To interview a scientist about this study, contact the NHLBI Communications Office at (301) 496-4236.
NHLBI press releases, information on the DASH Diet, cardiovascular disease, and an interactive Web page, "Your Guide To Lowering High Blood Pressure," can be found online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.