Minimizing Adverse Effects in Hypertension Treatment

Hypertension affects approximately 116 million people in the US and 1.4 billion worldwide. In the United States, about 53% of people aged 40 to 59 years have hypertension, and 71.6% of those 60 years and older. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Lowering blood pressure in people with hypertension significantly reduces this risk. A network meta-analysis of 42 randomized clinical trials involving 144,220 people with hypertension showed that lowering systolic blood pressure by 10, 20, or 30 mm Hg to a treatment goal of 120 to 124 mm Hg was associated with reductions in cardiovascular disease events of 29%, 42%, and 54%, respectively. Most people with hypertension require multiple antihypertensive medications to effectively control their blood pressure.