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Increasing Proportion of U.S. Adults Unaware They Have Hypertension

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, June 9, 2025 -- From 2013 to 2023, there was an increase in the proportion of U.S. adults who were unaware of having hypertension, according to a research letter published online June 4 in JAMA Cardiology.

Daniel Y. Johnson, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues examined changes in the proportion of U.S. adults who were unaware that they had hypertension, diabetes, or high total cholesterol level from 2013 to 2023 using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

A total of 15,269 adults with cardiovascular risk factors from 2013 to 2023 were included in the study. The researchers a significant increase in the weighted proportion of adults with hypertension who were unaware of it (14.6 percent in 2013 to 2014 to 17.8 percent in 2021 to 2023). No change was seen in the proportion of adults unaware they had diabetes (27.5 to 28.9 percent) and high cholesterol levels (11.5 to 11.9 percent). A significant increase was seen in the proportion of adults aged 20 to 44 years who were unaware of having hypertension (21.9 to 37.1 percent), while no changes were seen among adults aged 45 years or older. Unawareness of diabetes and high cholesterol levels did not change across age groups. A significant increase was seen in the proportion of women who were unaware they had hypertension (11.3 to 16.5 percent), while no change was observed among men.

"Policy efforts to address these gaps in awareness are needed to prevent future cardiovascular events," the authors write.

One author disclosed ties to Chamber Cardio and Abbott Vascular.

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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Posted June 2025

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