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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase control of high blood pressure in adults — HDS‑05 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Baseline only

  Baseline only

Most Recent Data:
16.1 percent (2017-20) *

Target:
18.9 percent  *

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
16.1 percent of adults aged 18 years and over with high blood pressure/hypertension had it under control in 2017-20  *

* Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people don’t know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure. A community health worker-focused, team-based model of care is one strategy to improve blood pressure control by actively engaging patients in their own care and educating them on medication use and lifestyle changes. Such interventions can improve health, reduce health disparities, and promote health equity when they’re implemented in under-resourced communities.

In 2017–2020, 16.1 percent of adults aged 18 years and over with hypertension (high blood pressure) had it under control.  *

Data Source:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC/NCHS

Disparities in rates of blood pressure control by age group: Highest/lowest rate  * ‡

In 2017–2020, adults aged 18–44 years with hypertension (high blood pressure) had the lowest group rate of blood pressure control (6.5 percent). Adults aged 65 years and over with hypertension (reference group) had the highest group rate (29.8 percent).

The rate of blood pressure control among adults aged 65 years and over with hypertension was more than 4.5 times the rate among adults aged 18–44 years with hypertension (maximal rate ratio). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 23.3 percentage points (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in rates of blood pressure control by age group: All groups  * ‡

In 2017–2020, adults aged 65 years and over with hypertension had the highest group rate of blood pressure control (29.8 percent).

  • The highest group rate was 17.7 percent higher than the rate of blood pressure control among adults aged 45–64 years with hypertension.
  • The highest group rate was more than 4.5 times the rate of blood pressure control among adults aged 18–44 years with hypertension.

Percentage of adults with hypertension whose blood pressure was under control, 2017–2020  *

29.8% Adults aged 65 years and over with hypertension
25.3% Adults aged 45–64 years with hypertension
6.5% Adults aged 18–44 years with hypertension

Find data for additional demographic groups.