Hypertension epidemiology and demographics


 * Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Taylor Palmieri

Overview
Hypertension is one of the most common diseases afflicting humans worldwide, estimated to have a prevalence of as many as 1 billion individuals, and causing 7.1 million deaths per year. Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease (the leading cause of death in North America), stroke (the third leading cause), congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Despite the prevalence and associated complications of hypertension, control of the disease is still exceedingly insufficient.

Epidemiology & Demographics
The level of blood pressure regarded as deleterious has been revised down during years of epidemiological studies. A widely quoted and important series of such studies is the Framingham Heart Study carried out in an American town: Framingham, Massachusetts. The results from Framingham and of similar work in Busselton, Western Australia have been widely applied. To the extent that people are similar this seems reasonable, but there are known to be genetic variations in the most effective drugs for particular sub-populations. Recently (2004), the Framingham figures have been found to overestimate risks for the UK population considerably. The reasons are unclear. Nevertheless the Framingham work has been an important element of UK health policy.