Emerging Treatment Options in Patients With Difficult-to-Treat Hypertension - Episode 1
Understanding Hypertension: Epidemiology and Prevalence
A panelist discusses how hypertension, often called the “silent killer,” remains a widespread yet underdiagnosed and undertreated condition globally, contributing significantly to cardiovascular and kidney-related morbidity despite being largely preventable and manageable.
1. Brief Overview of Hypertension
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is consistently too high. It is typically defined as having a systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 130 mm Hg or higher and/or a diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 80 mm Hg or higher, based on the guidelines from the American Heart Association. Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it may not cause noticeable symptoms until significant damage has occurred to the heart, arteries, kidneys, or other organs.
It can be classified as:
Primary (essential) hypertension – develops gradually over time with no identifiable cause.
Secondary hypertension – caused by an underlying condition such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, or certain medications.
a. Prevalence of Hypertension
Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular conditions worldwide. According to the World Health Organization:
Over 1.28 billion adults aged 30 to 79 years globally have hypertension.
Nearly 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware they have the condition.
In the United States, nearly 1 in 2 adults (about 47%) have hypertension.
Hypertension is more prevalent with increasing age, and it disproportionately affects certain populations, particularly African Americans in the US, who tend to develop it earlier and with more severe consequences.
Despite being preventable and manageable through lifestyle changes and medications, hypertension remains a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
