QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Prevalence*,† of Hypertension Treatment§ Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years with Hypertension,¶ by Sex and Race/Ethnicity — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2011–2014

Weekly / June 3, 2016 / 65(21);553

The figure above is a bar chart showing that during 2011–2014, 74.6% of adults aged ≥18 years with hypertension reported taking antihypertensive medication. Overall, a smaller percentage of non-Hispanic Asian adults (63.8%) with hypertension reported taking antihypertensive medication compared with non-Hispanic white (75.8%), non-Hispanic black (77.3%), and Hispanic (70.7%) adults with hypertension. This pattern was found for both men and women with one exception: the difference between non-Hispanic Asian men and Hispanic men was not significant. A larger percentage of non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic women reported taking antihypertensive medication than did their male counterparts.

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* With 95% confidence intervals indicated with error bars.

† Age-adjusted using the subpopulation of persons aged ≥18 years with hypertension during 2007–2008.

§ Respondents with hypertension who responded “yes” to the following two questions: “Because of your high blood pressure/hypertension, have you ever been told to take prescribed medicine?” and “Are you now following this advice to take prescribed medicine?”

¶ Respondents were defined as having hypertension if their systolic blood pressure was ≥140 mm Hg or their diastolic blood pressure was ≥90 mm Hg, or they were currently taking medication to lower high blood pressure.

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During 2011–2014, 74.6% of adults aged ≥18 years with hypertension reported taking antihypertensive medication. Overall, a smaller percentage of non-Hispanic Asian adults (63.8%) with hypertension reported taking antihypertensive medication compared with non-Hispanic white (75.8%), non-Hispanic black (77.3%), and Hispanic (70.7%) adults with hypertension. This pattern was found for both men and women with one exception: the difference between non-Hispanic Asian men and Hispanic men was not significant. A larger percentage of non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic women reported taking antihypertensive medication than did their male counterparts.

Sources: Nwankwo, T, Yoon SS, Burt V, Gu Q. Hypertension among adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012. NCHS data brief no. 133; 2013.http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db133.htm.
CDC. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2013–2014.http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.

Reported by: Cheryl D. Fryar, MSPH, CFryar@cdc.gov, 301-458-4537; Sung Sug (Sarah) Yoon, PhD; Margaret D. Carroll, MSPH; Steven M. Frenk, PhD.

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Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Prevalence of Hypertension Treatment Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years with Hypertension, by Sex and Race/Ethnicity — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2011–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:553. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6521a6 .