Health Survey for England, 2021 part 2

Hypertension (persistent high blood pressure) is an important public health challenge worldwide because of its high prevalence and the associated risk of CVD. It is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for stroke, ischaemic heart disease (such as angina, heart attacks, and heart failure), and renal disease, and is one of the most preventable and treatable causes of premature deaths worldwide (Source: World Health Organization).

Trend data on the prevalence of hypertension are presented for 2003 and from 2005 onwards, using measurements taken with the Omron HEM207 sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure.

The HSE cannot be completely accurate in identifying people with hypertension as the definition requires persistently raised blood pressure; HSE measures the blood pressure of each participant three times but on a single occasion.

High blood pressure is defined in this report as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) at or above 140mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at or above 90mmHg or on medication prescribed for high blood pressure. Participants are classified into one of four groups as follows:

• Normotensive untreated: SBP below 140mmHg and DBP below 90mmHg, not currently taking medication for blood pressure.
• Hypertensive controlled: SBP below 140mmHg and DBP below 90mmHg, currently taking medication for blood pressure.
• Hypertensive uncontrolled: SBP at or greater than 140mmHg and/or DBP at or greater than 90mmHg, currently taking medication for blood pressure.
• Hypertensive untreated: SBP at or greater than 140mmHg and/or DBP at or greater than 90mmHg, not currently taking medication for blood pressure.

30% of adults had hypertension (high blood pressure), including 15% with untreated hypertension. Overall prevalence was at similar levels for men and women.

The prevalence of total hypertension increased with age, from 9% of adults aged 16 to 44 to 60% of adults aged 65 and over.

For more information: Table 12

The prevalence of untreated hypertension was highest at an earlier age for men than women. Among men, untreated hypertension was highest among those aged 45 to 64 (25%), among women, this proportion increased with age and was highest among those aged 65 and over (25%).

For more information: Table 12

After taking age into account, the prevalence of hypertension was similar across household income tertiles, as was the prevalence of untreated hypertension.

For more information: Table 13

After taking age into account, the prevalence of hypertension varied by area deprivation, ranging from 23% in the least deprived quintile of IMD to 40% in the most deprived quintile.

The prevalence of untreated hypertension was similar across the area deprivation quintiles.

For more information: Table 14

The prevalence of hypertension (high blood pressure) among all adults was 31% in 2003 and remained between 29% and 30% between 2005 and 2014. Over the period 2015 to 2019, the prevalence of total hypertension varied between 27% and 28%.

The proportion of adults in the population with untreated hypertension (SBP at or greater than 140mmHg and/or DBP at or greater than 90mmHg, not currently taking medication for blood pressure) decreased from 2003 to 2019 for both men (20% to 14%) and women (16% to 11%).

For more information: Table 15