Management: Blood Pressure Monitoring and Control

National screening guidelines for hypertension are well established.^10,11 However, as elevated blood pressure is asymptomatic in most cases, it is not surprising that one-third of those affected do not know they have this condition.¹²

Although progress has been made in raising awareness of the importance of blood pressure screening and monitoring, blood pressure control among persons with diagnosed high blood pressure remains a problem.

Figure 2.10. Adults age 18 and over with blood pressure under control (<140/90 mm/Hg), 1988-1994 and 1999-2002, and with blood pressure monitoring, 1998 and 2003

[D] Select for Text Description.

Sources: MonitoringCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Interview Survey, 1998 and 2003. ControlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994 and 1999-2002.

Note: Blood pressure monitoring involves having blood pressure measured in the past 2 years and being able to state whether blood pressure was normal or high.

• In 2003, the rate of blood pressure monitoring was 90.4%, which was not significantly different from the 1998 rate (Figure 2.10). The Healthy People 2010 target is 95%.
• Among patients who are under treatment for high blood pressure, the proportion who have their blood pressure under control increased significantly from 23.1% in 1988-1994 to 29.4% in 1999-2002. The Healthy People 2010 target is 50%.

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