WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Approximately one-half of Americans with hypertension and two-thirds with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) do not have their condition under control, with individuals lacking health insurance having the lowest rates of control, according to two reports published in the Feb. 1 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The CDC used 1999 to 2002 and 2005 to 2008 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on the prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years and on the prevalence, treatment, and control of high LDL-C among U.S. adults aged ≥20 years.
The reports revealed that one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, one in three adults with high blood pressure does not get treatment, and half of adults with hypertension do not have it under control. In addition, one in three adults has high cholesterol, one in two adults with high cholesterol does not obtain treatment, and two out of three adults with high cholesterol do not have it under control. Control rates for high blood pressure and high cholesterol were low among people in certain socioeconomic and ethnic groups, with the lowest rates of control among those having no health insurance, those with no usual source of medical care, those having received care less than twice in the last year, or those having an income below the poverty level. The reports also revealed that rates of high blood pressure and high cholesterol control were low among young adults and Mexican Americans.
"Although we're making some progress, the United States is failing to prevent the leading cause of death -- cardiovascular disease -- despite the existence of low cost, highly effective treatments," Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., CDC director, said in a statement. "We need to do a better job improving care and supporting patients to prevent avoidable illness, disability, and death."
Full Text - Hypertension
Full Text - Cholesterol
