Implications of a health lifestyle and medication analysis for improving hypertension control.

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Abstract
THE SIXTH REPORT of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure indicates that the decades-long trend toward improved hypertension control reached an inflection point in recent years and has now declined.1 For example, while the proportion of persons with hypertension who had been diagnosed and were aware of their condition rose substantially between 1976 and 1991, it declined slightly during the first half of this decade.1,2 The same pattern is evident with regard to blood pressure (BP) control rates. The proportion of persons with hypertension who have controlled BP (≤140/90 mm Hg) increased from 10% in 1976-1980 to 29% in 1988-1991, but dropped to 27% in 1991-1994, even though the proportion of persons with hypertension who are receiving medication has been rising steadily.1,2