Mean Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure in Adults Aged 18 and Over in the United States, 2001–2008

Although mortality due to heart disease has declined over the past 15 years, it remains the leading cause of death in the United States (1). The most recent report on hypertension (2), which used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), estimated that 30% of adults aged 18 and over had hypertension. No significant change was observed between 1999–2000 and 2007–2008. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7)(3) reaffirmed that the relationship between blood pressure and cardiovascular disease is continuous, with increased blood pressure associated with higher risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease. In recognition of the continuous risk associated with higher blood pressure, the objective of this report was to estimate the mean and distribution of systolic and diastolic blood pressure for adults 18 and over using data from NHANES 2001–2008. Estimated means and selected percentiles of systolic and diastolic blood pressure are presented by sex, race or ethnicity, age, and hypertension status.