Check Your Answers Hypertension IQ

QUESTION 1: REDUCING OFFICE SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE BY 10MMHG REDUCES THE RISK OF HEART FAILURE BY HOW MUCH?

28 percent graphic

According to a meta-analysis of more than 600,000 participants in 123 studies, a 10mmHg reduction in blood pressure reduces the risk of heart failure by 28%.1

Bar chart showing the results of a meta-analysis of 123 studies about how reducing blood pressure impacts the risk for complications. Reducing blood pressure decreases risk for heart failure by 28%.

QUESTION 2: WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATED DIRECT GLOBAL COSTS OF HYPERTENSION?

$370 billion graphic

A study estimated the annual direct cost of hypertension to be $370 billion.2 At the time these data were released, that number represented 10% of all healthcare spending globally. The same study said that the indirect costs could be 10 times higher, or $3.7 trillion.

QUESTION 3: ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, HYPERTENSION CAUSES WHAT PERCENTAGE OF ALL DEATHS?

12.8 percent graphic

The WHO says: “Worldwide, raised blood pressure is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths, about 12.8% of the total of all deaths.”3

QUESTION 4: HOW MANY PATIENTS WHO TAKE HYPERTENSION MEDICATION BECOME NON-ADHERENT WITHIN ONE YEAR?

50 percent graphic

Within the subset of patients who are treating their hypertension, non-adherence is a huge concern. In fact, 50% of all patients who start medication become non-adherent within one year.4

Get More Facts About Hypertension

This information sheet provides a wealth of statistics about hypertension prevalence.
1

Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, et al. Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet, 2016: 387:957–67.

2

Gaziano TA, Asaf B, S Anand, et. al. The global cost of non-optimal blood pressure. J Hypertens. 2009; 27(7): 1472–1477.

3

World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory (GHO) data, Raised blood pressure: Situation and trends. https://www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/blood_pressure_prevalence_text/en/

4

Jung O, Gechter JL, Wunder C, et al. Resistant Hypertension? Assessment of adherence by toxicological urine analysis. Hypertension. 2013;31(4):766–774.