Abstract P167: Trends in Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, and Control Based on the New Definition of Hypertension; A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-Based Study

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. According to the recent guideline, the criteria for diagnosing hypertension is now 130/80mmhg. This study seeks to gain a better understanding of the prevalence of hypertension, its awareness, and control in the United States population over the last 10 years using the new criteria for hypertension. Methods: NHANES is a stratified multistage probability sampling of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. We used the last five cycles available (2007-2016) to conduct a prevalence study applying statistical methods to account for the survey technique and non-response. Result: The mean age was 47.33 years (95%CI, 46.82-29.09), females constituted 51.9% of the population(n=28147), non-Hispanic white 66.63%, non-Hispanic black, 11.40%, Mexican American 8.55%. About 39% of the population studied were obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30). The crude ten years prevalence of hypertension was 38.85%, there was an increasing trend from 37.58% in the 2007-2008 cycle to 41.12% in the 2015-2016 cycle; this increase is statistically significant<0.001. In subgroup analysis, 40.12% of non-Hispanic whites were hypertensive compared 48.61% of the black population and 28.65% of Mexican Americans. The age-adjusted prevalence rate of hypertension using the new guideline is 37%, ranging from 12.68% in age 20-39 years to 73.81% in people above 60 years. Non-Hispanic white had an adjusted 10 years prevalence of 35.66%, a minimal trend of 36.02 to 37.14% from 2005-2006 cycle to 2015-2016 cycle while Non-Hispanic black had a trend from 46.88-51.34%,p<0.0001. Awareness of being hypertensive went down from 64.02% in 2005-2006 cycle to 59.90% in the 2015-2016 cycle and control went down from 64.01% to 59.91%. Conclusion: We were able to demonstrate the significant increase in hypertension prevalence with an increasing trend based on the new guidelines. Also, there is a downward trend in awareness and control; we have demonstrated again, the significant racial disparities in hypertension with about half of the black population being hypertensive. Our study showed that there is a need to intensify effort to combat this epidemic.