Hypertension is a major risk factor for the development of CVD. The evidence linking untreated hypertension to  increased cardiovascular morbidity is undisputed. However, literature surveys continue to report suboptimal population  based management of hypertension. For example, in the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of non-Hispanic whites, 62.9% of patients with hypertension were aware of their diagnosis, 48.6% were receiving treatment, and only 29.8% had their hypertension controlled (1). Published guidelines differ regarding the age at which blood pressure assessment should commence. The recommendations of the seventh report  of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood  Pressure(2), which recommends  screening beginning at 18 years of age...

Supachai Tanomsup  MD,FRCPC,FACC

[Download DOC File To Read The Full Article]