CDC Says US Deaths from Hypertension Climbing

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the overall mortality rate associated with hypertension in the United States has increased 23% between 2000 and 2013.

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Using data from the National Vital Statistics System, the CDC determined hypertension mortality rates based on indication of hypertension-related incident on the death certificate. The researchers assessed adults 45 to 64 years of age and those ≥85 years of age.

Hypertension-related deaths were higher for women than men among the ≥85 years of age cohort; however, hypertension-related deaths were higher for men among the 45 to 84 years of age range. For women ≥85 years of age, the hypertension-related death rate increased 23%, from 2003.1 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 2464.4 per 100,000 people in 2005. In that same age cohort, the rate of hypertension-related deaths for men increased 27.5% from 1648.8 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 2110.4 per 100,000 people in 2005.

In addition, from 2000 to 2013, the mortality rate increased 16.5% among men 65 to 74 years of age. In the 45 to 65 years of age cohort, the mortality rate increased 58.2% for men and 36.8% for women.

In terms of demographics, the report indicated that the age-adjusted hypertension-related mortality rates were higher among non-Hispanic blacks compared with non-Hispanic whites and Hispanic populations.

The report also examined the underlying causes of hypertension-related death, with the 5 most common causes including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes accounted for 65% of all deaths with any mention of hypertension in 2000 and for 54% in 2013. In 2000, heart disease was the number 1 contributor of hypertension-related death (34.2%), though in 2013, the most common underlying cause selected was “other” (28.1%).

Click here for more on the CDC report.—Kerri Fitzgerald