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New Treatments for Hypertension

Hypertension is the chronic disease accounting for the largest number of physician office visits.

25-30% of the U. S. adult population

More prevalent in men than women.

African-Americans:

Higher overall prevalence of HTN.

Higher HTN associated morbidity.

More likely to develop HTN at younger age.

Higher proportion of hypertensives with Stage III-IV HTN (12% vs 6% in white hypertensives).

Morbidity of Hypertension

End stage renal disease

Coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction

Stroke

Relative risk of stroke and CAD at various diastolic bp levels in untreated patients: