New Release on Hypertension Prevalence Among US Adults

NCHS Data Brief, Number 364, April 2020

Hypertension Prevalence Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2017–2018

Key findings
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• In survey period 2017–2018, the prevalence of age-adjusted hypertension was 45.4% among adults and was higher among men (51.0%) than women (39.7%).
• Hypertension increased with age: 22.4% (aged 18–39), 54.5% (40–59), and 74.5% (60 and over).
• Hypertension prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic black (57.1%) than non-Hispanic white (43.6%) or Hispanic (43.7%) adults.
• Hypertension was lowest among college graduates compared with those having a high school education or less, and those with more than high school or some college. This trend was similar among both men and women.
• Overall hypertension prevalence decreased from 47.0% in 1999–2000 to 41.7% in 2013–2014 and then increased to 45.4% in 2017–2018.

Keywords

​high blood pressure, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

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Non-Hispanic Black Adults Have the Highest Rates of Hypertension in the United States

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