State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program Addresses High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure Facts

• High blood pressure (HBP), defined by systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or more, or diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or more, affects an estimated 75 million people in the United States.
• One of three adults has high blood pressure and another 59 million adults have pre-hypertension (systolic blood pressure of 120–139 or diastolic blood pressure of 80–89).^1,2
• About 85% of adults with hypertension are aware of their condition (64 million). About half (54%) of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control (41 million).⁴
• High blood pressure is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases for which treatment is available. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases one’s risk of heart disease and stroke; even modest elevations in blood pressure are associated with an increase in disease risk.
• Research show that a 12-13 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure could reduce the number of strokes by 37%, coronary heart disease by 21%, and death from cardiovascular disease by 25%.⁵ Because the consequences of high blood pressure are so serious, early detection, treatment, and control are critical.
• About 50% of people who suffer a first heart attack and about 66% of people experiencing a first stroke have blood pressure above 160/95 mm Hg.⁶ Also, high blood pressure is associated with a 2–3 times higher risk of developing heart failure.⁷
• The cost of high blood pressure and its adverse health outcomes is an economic burden to our nation. In 2011, the estimated direct and indirect costs of high blood pressure were $48.6 billion.
• Treatment of high blood pressure includes behavior changes and compliance to drug therapy when indicated. Reduction in excess weight through improved diet and exercise and avoidance of excess dietary salt, for example, can be very effective in controlling blood pressure. To help with therapeutic decisions, the JNC 7 report establishes three risk groups with recommended treatment. Adults should have their blood pressure checked regularly. See JNC 7 guidelines for treatment recommendations.

State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program: Take Action!

State Health Departments work to reduce the burden of stroke by promoting activities that can be implemented in health care, work sites, communities, and schools. For example, a state program might

• Promote policy development for system changes that ensure increased adherence to national guidelines for the prevention and control of high blood pressure through screening and follow-up, and provide education and training about the importance of implementing JNC 7 guidelines. Assure detection and follow-up services with employees for control of blood pressure at the work site.
  • Potential Partners: local health care professional organizations; such as, occupational health nurses, medical societies, health and safety managers, human resource managers, voluntary health care organizations, and local health departments.
• Develop assessment tools for tracking high blood pressure treatment and control rates.
  • Potential Partners: primary care associations, federally-qualified health centers, managed care organizations, and Medicare Quality Improvement Organization.
• Inform the public that high blood pressure is a major modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and that having blood pressure checked is an important first step in identifying and controlling high blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Assure that detection and follow-up services are available for controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol in various settings including the work site and community.
  • Potential Partners: American Heart Association (AHA) affiliates, media, business, industry and human resource management, employee associations, unions, faith organizations, local minority nursing associations, and local health departments.
• Collaborate on education and policy intervention programs to detect and control high blood pressure in high-risk groups.
  • Potential Partners: AHA affiliate, hospitals, federally-qualified health centers, business, industry and human resource management, employee associations, faith organizations, local minority nursing association, and local health departments
• Advocate for health care coverage to include blood pressure screening, treatment, and control, and rehabilitation services for heart attack and stroke survivors.
  • Potential Partners: AHA affiliate, business, industry and human resource management, employee associations, unions, third party payers, health care providers, and local policymakers.

*If the systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements fall into two different categories, the blood pressure classification is the higher of the two categories.
Source: The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.

References

1. American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2007 Update. Dallas, TX: AHA,2007.
2. Levy D, Larson MG, Vasan RS, Kannel WB, Ho KK. The progression from hypertension to congestive heart failure. JAMA 1996;275:1557–1562.
3. American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics–2003 Update. Dallas, TX: AHA.
4. National Institutes of Health. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and treatment of High Blood Pressure www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines
5. He J, Whelton PK. Elevated systolic blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular and renal disease: overview of evidence from observational epidemiologic studies and randomized controlled trials. Am Heart J. 1999;138:S211-9.
6. Magnus P, Beaglehole R. The real contribution of the major risk factors to the coronary epidemics. Archives of Internal Medicine 2001;161:2657–60.
7. Hellermann JP, Goraya TY, Jacobsen SJ, Weston SA, Reeder GS, Gersh BJ, Redfield MM, Rodeheffer RJ, Yawn BP, Roger VL. Incidence of Heart Failure after Myocardial Infarction: Is It Changing over Time? Arch Intern Med 1997;157:2413–46.