The Hypertension Paradox — More Uncontrolled Disease despite Improved Therapy

Abstract

The treatment of hypertension has been one of medicine's major successes of the past half-century. The remarkable advances in therapy have provided the newfound capability for lowering blood pressure in almost every person with hypertension. Nevertheless, hypertension continues to be a major public health problem whose prevalence is increasing worldwide.¹ Moreover, the number of people with uncontrolled blood pressure is also increasing, despite the therapeutic advances. Here, I discuss the factors responsible for this paradox and the strategies required for addressing the growing problem.