Strategies for improvement of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension: results of a panel discussion.

High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease, and a variety of other clinically important outcomes. Results from the surveys described in this issue and elsewhere underscore a common finding that hypertension is both highly prevalent and insufficiently treated and controlled. Recognizing the differences in sampling and survey measurement techniques, the reported prevalence of hypertension (SBP/DBP >/=140/90 mmHg or treatment with antihypertensive medication) in adults exceeded 25% in all of the surveys reported in this issue. In Latvia, the prevalence of hypertension for 25-64-year-old adults in the general population was 46.1%. Control of hypertension with medication to an SBP/DBP <140/90 mmHg in the general population ranged from as low as 12% to a high of only 29%. Data from other parts of the world provide an equally distressing picture of what is (not) being accomplished in treatment and control of hypertension at the level of the general population. These data provide testimony to an urgent need for greater attention to the treatment and control of hypertension in populations around the world. This was the basis for a panel discussion at the International Society of Hypertension satellite conference The Epidemiology of Hypertension-Regional Differences in Treatment and Control. Panel participants included Drs P Whelton, S Sonkodi, DG Beevers, JG Fodor, H Elliot, R Cifkova, A Nissinen, A Javor, and there was active participation of other symposium attendees. The following summarizes key elements of the discussion and recommendations of the panel.