Prevalence and trends of prehypertension and hypertension in United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1976 to 2000.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Repeated cross-sectional epidemiological surveys (NHANES)
What was done
Analyzed repeated cross-sectional data from three waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—NHANES II (1976–1980, n = 20,322), NHANES III (1988–1992, n = 30,818), and NHANES 1999–2000 (n = 4,115)—to evaluate prevalence and temporal trends in prehypertension (120–139/80–89 mm Hg), stage 1 hypertension (140–159/90–99 mm Hg), and stage 2 hypertension (≥160/100 mm Hg) among US adults aged 20 years or older using JNC-7 criteria.
What was found
In the 1999–2000 US adult population, prehypertension affected an estimated 41.9 million men and 27.8 million women; stage 1 hypertension affected 12.8 million men and 12.2 million women; and stage 2 hypertension affected 4.1 million men and 6.9 million women. Between 1988–1992 and 1999–2000, age- and sex-adjusted rates of prehypertension increased among non-Hispanic White, African American, and Hispanic populations. Age- and sex-adjusted stage 1 hypertension increased among Hispanics. Stage 2 hypertension rates decreased in non-Hispanic Whites but were unchanged for African Americans and Hispanics.
Why it matters
This study established national baseline estimates under JNC-7 classifications, showing that over 100 million US adults had either prehypertension or hypertension and highlighting persistent racial/ethnic disparities in blood pressure trends.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot evaluate longitudinal individual trajectories or causality. Blood pressure was measured during survey examination visits rather than continuous clinical monitoring. The abstract does not provide exact percentage rates, confidence intervals, or test statistics.
Cited by
- supports A blood pressure reading of 120/80 is classified as pre-hypertensive.