Prevalence and incidence of hypertension from 1995 to 2005

Abstract

"Hypertension is an important risk factor for death, stroke and cardiovascular disease and a major cause of end-stage renal disease. Kearney and colleagues1 estimated that the prevalence of hypertension in 2000 was 26% of the adult population globally and that in 2025 the prevalence would increase by 24% in developed countries and 80% in developing countries. Results of a recent population-based study performed in Canada indicated that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased substantially from 1995 to 2005, and that the 2005 prevalence had already exceeded the World Health Organization’s projected global rate for 2030.2 This rapid rise in diabetes prevalence has been attributed to an unprecedented increase in obesity and lifestyle changes in developed countries.3,4 Obesity and sedentary lifestyles are also major risk factors for hypertension.5 Therefore, the prevalence of hypertension is also likely rising at a faster rate than predicted."