Hypertension: Why is it So Hard to Control and What Can We Do About It?
- Rob Merritt, Branch Chief, Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, DHDSP. (Facilitator)
- Mark Veazie, Epidemiologist, Native American Cardiology Program, Indian Health Service
- Sonia Angell, Director, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control Program, New York City Health Department
- Nicole Blair, Team Leader, Planning, Partnerships, and Policy Team, Office of the Director, DHDSP
Session Objective
The objectives for this session are to:
- Review the recent data on the awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the United States.
- Gain an understanding of the barriers to hypertension control at a population level.
- Learn about disparities and barriers to treatment and control, with a special focus on the American Indian population.
- Hear an overview of the New York City Health Department’s efforts to address high blood pressure control and the NYC sodium initiative.
- Learn about concrete strategy ideas for moving the science into action and policy.
Session Summary
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease. About 32% of non-institutionalized adults ages 20 and over have high blood pressure or hypertension. Despite years of clinical and public health efforts to decrease the proportion of the population who have high blood pressure and increase the proportion of the hypertensive population who are treated and controlled, just 64% of hypertensive adults who are being treated with antihypertensive medication have their blood pressure under control. The session describes various barriers to hypertension control and particular challenges among disparate populations. The plenary session provides examples of what is being done to decrease hypertension in the population and increase hypertension control.
Session Materials
Resources/References/Web Sites/Tools
