Hypertension in the Jerusalem 70 year olds study population: Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control

As part of the Jerusalem 70 year olds study, we evaluated the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension (blood pressure ≤ 160 mm Hg systolic and/or ≤ 95 mm Hg diastolic, or current treatment with prescribed antihypertensive medications). The study cohort consisted of 448 participants, 224 of whom had hypertension. Relative to other populations, awareness was high (87%). Although the treatment rate was also relatively high (86%), the control rate was only 43%. Untreated isolated systolic hypertension was uncommon (5%), as was orthostatic hypotension (6.9%). Thus, despite a remarkable degree of awareness and treatment rate of hypertension, control levels were disappointingly low. This finding, if confirmed, requires further elucidation.