Study: Many with high BP skip medication

By Rhonda Rowland
CNN Medical Unit

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- An estimated 27 percent of the U.S. population has high blood pressure, but only one-fourth of those with hypertension take medication to control the condition. Most of these people who don't are over 65, a new study showed Wednesday.

Hypertension, which contributes to heart disease and stroke, is the leading reason people visit a physician, raising the question of why so many go untreated.

"This is a consistent and disturbing finding" Dr. Sidney Smith with the American Heart Association told CNN. "Treating patients within the guidelines is important. Doctors need to adhere to published guidelines."

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds most cases of uncontrolled hypertension are among those over age 65, most of whom have health coverage and see a physician an average of three times a year.

Most of these patients have elevated systolic blood pressure. Studies show anti-hypertensive medications are beneficial in elderly patients whose blood pressure is higher than 160/90. Normal blood pressure is 120/80.

"The lack of control of hypertension is not confined to the poor, the uninsured or minorities," the Baylor College of Medicine researchers write in their study.

Furthermore, they said, "Undiagnosed hypertension and treated but uncontrolled hypertension occur largely under the watchful eye of the health care system."

Said the AHA's Smith: "We should not assume the sole reason for undertreatment is due to physicians. "Patient compliance and the addition of other medications factor in in terms of cost and side effects."

Previous studies have shown about half of patients who are prescribed high blood pressure medications stop taking their therapy by the end of the first year.