NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 289 ■ October 2017

Hypertension Prevalence and Control Among Adults: 

United States, 2015–2016

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., Yechiam Ostchega, Ph.D., R.N., Craig M. Hales, M.D., M.P.H., 

Guangyu Zhang, Ph.D., and Deanna Kruszon-Moran, M.S.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

● During 2015–2016, the

prevalence of hypertension was

29.0% and increased with age:

age group 18–39, 7.5%; 40–59,

33.2%; and 60 and over, 63.1%.

● Hypertension prevalence

was higher among 

non-Hispanic black (40.3%) 

than non-Hispanic white 

(27.8%), non-Hispanic Asian 

(25.0%), or Hispanic (27.8%) 

adults.

● Prevalence of controlled

hypertension was 48.3% and

increased with age for men but

not women.

● Hypertension control was

higher among non-Hispanic 

white (50.8%) than 

non-Hispanic black (44.6%) or 

non-Hispanic Asian (37.4%) 

adults.

● From 1999 to 2016,

hypertension prevalence was 

unchanged. For controlled 

hypertension, prevalence 

increased from 1999 to 2010 

but then did not change through 

2016.

Hypertension remains an important public health challenge in the 

United States because it increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. Effective 

blood pressure management has been shown to decrease the incidence of 

stroke, heart attack, and heart failure (1–3). This report presents updated 

estimates (4) for the prevalence and control of hypertension in the United 

States for 2015–2016. Trends in hypertension prevalence and control from 

1999–2000 through 2015–2016 are also presented.

Keywords: high blood pressure • National Health and Nutrition Examination 

Survey

What was the prevalence of hypertension among adults 

during 2015–2016?

Overall, the prevalence of hypertension among adults was 29.0%, and was 

similar among men (30.2%) and women (27.7%) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 18 and over, by sex and age: 

United States, 2015–2016

1

Men significantly different from women in the same age group. 

2

Significant increasing trend by age.

NOTES: Estimates for age group 18 and over are age adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. Census population using age 

groups 18–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Crude estimates for age group 18 and over are 32.1%, total; 31.8%, men; and 32.4%, 

women. Access data table for Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db289_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2016. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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The prevalence of hypertension increased with age, from 7.5% among adults aged 18–39 to 

33.2% among those aged 40–59, and 63.1% among those aged 60 and over. A similar pattern was 

found among both men and women.

Men had a higher prevalence of hypertension than women among adults aged 18–39 (9.2% 

compared with 5.6%, respectively) and 40–59 (37.2% compared with 29.4%, respectively), but 

men had a lower prevalence of hypertension than women among adults 60 and over (58.5% 

compared with 66.8%, respectively).

Were differences seen in the prevalence of hypertension among adults by 

race and Hispanic origin during 2015–2016?

For all adults, the prevalence of hypertension among non-Hispanic black (40.3%) adults was 

higher than among non-Hispanic white (27.8%), non-Hispanic Asian (25.0%), and Hispanic 

(27.8%) adults (Figure 2). 

In men, the prevalence of hypertension was higher among non-Hispanic black (40.6%) adults 

than among non-Hispanic white (29.7%), non-Hispanic Asian (28.7%), and Hispanic (27.3%) 

adults.

Figure 2. Age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 18 and over, by sex and race and Hispanic origin: 

United States, 2015–2016

1

Significant difference from non-Hispanic Asian.

2

Significant difference from non-Hispanic white.

3

Significant difference from Hispanic.

NOTES: All estimates are age adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. Census population using age groups 18–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Access data 

table for Figure 2 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db289_table.pdf#2. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2016. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 289 ■ October 2017

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In women, the prevalence of hypertension was higher among non-Hispanic black (39.9%) adults 

than among non-Hispanic white (25.6%), non-Hispanic Asian (21.9%), and Hispanic (28.0%) 

adults. Hispanic women had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension than non-Hispanic 

Asian women.

No significant differences were observed between men and women within race and Hispanicorigin groups.

What percentage of adults with hypertension had their blood pressure 

controlled?

Among adults with hypertension during 2015–2016, 48.3% had controlled hypertension. The 

prevalence of controlled hypertension overall increased with age and was lower among those 

aged 18–39 (32.5%) than among those aged 40–59 (50.8%) and 60 and over (49.4%) 

(Figure 3). This pattern was similar for men. Among women with hypertension, the observed 

decline in control with age was not significant.

A higher percentage of women had controlled hypertension than men, both overall (52.5% 

compared with 45.7%, respectively) and among those aged 18–39 (62.6% compared with 15.5%, 

respectively).

Figure 3. Prevalence of controlled hypertension among adults with hypertension aged 18 and over, by sex and age: 

United States, 2015–2016

1

Men significantly different from women in the same age group. 

2

Significant increasing trend by age.

NOTES: Estimates for age group 18 and over are age adjusted by the direct method using computed weights based on the subpopulation of persons with 

hypertension in the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using age groups 18–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Crude estimates for age 

group 18 and over are 48.5%, total; 45.2%, men; and 51.6%, women. Access data table for Figure 3 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db289_table.pdf#3. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Among adults with hypertension, were differences seen in blood pressure 

control by race and Hispanic origin during 2015–2016?

The prevalence of hypertension control among all adults with hypertension was higher among 

non-Hispanic white (50.8%) adults than among non-Hispanic black (44.6%) and non-Hispanic 

Asian (37.4%) adults (Figure 4).

The patterns of controlled hypertension among race and Hispanic-origin groups were similar 

among men and women. However, among men with hypertension, differences by race and 

Hispanic-origin group were not significant. Among women with hypertension, the prevalence of 

controlled hypertension was significantly higher among non-Hispanic white (57.1%) women than 

among non-Hispanic black (48.5%) and non-Hispanic Asian (39.7%) women. 

The percentage of men with controlled hypertension was lower than for women among both 

non-Hispanic white (47.7% and 57.1%, respectively) and non-Hispanic black (40.1% and 48.5%, 

respectively) adults.

Figure 4. Age-adjusted prevalence of controlled hypertension among adults with hypertension aged 18 and over, by sex 

and race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2015–2016

1

Significant difference from non-Hispanic Asian.

2

Significant difference from non-Hispanic black.

3

Men significantly different from women in the same race and Hispanic-origin group. 

NOTES: All estimates are age adjusted by the direct method using computed weights based on the subpopulation of persons with hypertension in the 2007–2008 

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using age groups 18–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Access data table for Figure 4 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db289_table.pdf#4. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2016. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Figure 5. Age-adjusted trends in hypertension and controlled hypertension among adults aged 18 and over: United States, 

1999–2016

1

Significant increasing trend for 1999–2010, p < 0.001.

NOTES: Hypertension estimates are age adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. Census population using age groups 18–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. 

Estimates of controlled hypertension are age adjusted by the direct method using computed weights based on the subpopulation of persons with hypertension in 

the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using age groups 18–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Access data table for Figure 5 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db289_table.pdf#5. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2016. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has overall prevalence and control of hypertension changed between 1999 

and 2016?

From 1999 through 2016, no significant change was seen in the percentage of adults with 

hypertension. The prevalence of controlled hypertension among adults with hypertension in the 

United States increased from 31.6% in 1999–2000 to 53.1% in 2009–2010, but no significant 

changes were observed from 2009–2010 through 2015–2016. The observed decrease in 

hypertension control from 53.9% in 2013–2014 to 48.3% in 2015–2016 was not significant 

(Figure 5).
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Summary

Overall, the U.S. prevalence of hypertension among adults was 29.0% during 2015–2016, with 

no significant change in prevalence since 1999–2000. However, among adults with hypertension, 

hypertension control increased from 1999–2000 to 2009–2010 and then did not significantly 

change through 2015–2016. No significant differences were seen between 2013–2014 and 

2015–2016.

Hypertension prevalence increased with age and was 33.2% among those aged 40–59 and 63.1% 

among those aged 60 and over. About one-half of all adults aged 40 and over with hypertension 

had controlled hypertension. However, among those aged 18–39 with hypertension, 15.5% of 

men had controlled hypertension compared with 62.6% of women.

Hypertension prevalence was highest among non-Hispanic black men and women. Hispanic 

women also had a higher prevalence of hypertension than non-Hispanic Asian women. Controlled 

hypertension, however, was generally higher among non-Hispanic white adults than among 

non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic Asian adults. Controlled hypertension was also higher for 

non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women than for their male counterparts.

Despite progress in hypertension control that has been noted in the United States over the years, 

the goal of Healthy People 2020 (61.2% by 2020) has not been met (5). Currently, just less than 

one-half of adults with hypertension have their hypertension under control (48.3%).

Definitions

Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or diastolic blood 

pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg, or currently taking medication to lower high blood 

pressure (6).

Controlled hypertension: Systolic blood pressure less than 140 mmHg and diastolic blood 

pressure less than 90 mmHg among those with hypertension (6). Estimates are age adjusted to 

the subpopulation of persons with hypertension in the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey (7).

Data source and methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 1999–2016 were 

used for these analyses. Data from the most recent 2-year survey cycle, NHANES 2015–2016, 

were used to test differences between demographic subgroups. The precision and ability to detect 

differences in hypertension prevalence and control when a true difference does exist are lower 

with 2 years of data than when these estimates are based on 4 years of data, due to the smaller 

sample sizes. In testing for trends in hypertension prevalence and control, nine 2-year cycles 

(1999–2000 through 2015–2016) were used.

NHANES is a cross-sectional survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the 

civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population using highly stratified, multistage probability designs 

(8). The survey consists of interviews conducted in participants’ homes and standardized health 

examinations conducted in mobile examination centers (MECs). Blood pressure was measured in 
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the MEC by trained physicians using standard protocol on a total sample of 5,504 nonpregnant 

persons aged 18 and over.

During 2015–2016, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic persons, among other 

groups, were oversampled to obtain reliable estimates for these population subgroups. Specific 

race and Hispanic-origin estimates reflect persons reporting only one race; those reporting more 

than one race are included in the total but not reported separately.

All blood pressure readings were obtained during a single examination visit. After a 5-minute 

rest in a seated position, participants had up to three brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressure 

measurements taken 30 seconds apart. An average of up to three systolic and diastolic blood 

pressure readings was used for systolic and diastolic blood pressure values (8). More than 99% of 

study participants had at least two complete blood pressure measurements. For participants with 

only one blood pressure reading (0.005%), a single measurement was used.

Examination sample weights, which account for the differential probabilities of selection, 

nonresponse, and noncoverage, were incorporated into the estimation process. All variance 

estimates accounted for the complex survey design by using Taylor series linearization.

Hypertension prevalence estimates for the total adult population were age adjusted to the 2000 

projected U.S. Census population using the direct method and age groups 18–39, 40–59, and 

60 and over (9). Age-adjusted estimates of controlled hypertension were calculated using the 

subpopulation of persons who have hypertension, as recommended by the National Surveillance 

Definitions for Hypertension (7), using age groups 18–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Statistical 

analyses were conducted using SAS System for Windows Release 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, 

N.C.) and SUDAAN Release 11.1 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.). Differences 

between groups were tested using a univariate t statistic. Linear regression modeling was used 

to determine the significance of linear and quadratic trends and the significance of any change in 

trend. If a quadratic trend was found, Joinpoint software and piecewise regression were used to 

determine if changes in trend occurred over time (10). All differences reported are statistically 

significant at the p < 0.05 level unless otherwise indicated. Adjustments were not made for 

multiple comparisons.

About the authors

Cheryl D. Fryar, Yechiam Ostchega, Craig M. Hales, and Deanna Kruszon-Moran are with the 

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of Health and Nutrition Examination 

Surveys. Guangyu Zhang is with the NCHS Division of Research and Methodology.

References

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design and rationale of a multicenter clinical trial comparing two strategies for control of systolic 

blood pressure: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). Clin Trials 

11(5):532–46. 2014.

2. Lawes CM, Bennett DA, Feigin VL, Rodgers A. Blood pressure and stroke: An overview of 

published reviews. Stroke 35(4):1024. 2004.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 289 ■ October 2017

3. Zanchetti A, Thomopoulos C, Parati G. Randomized controlled trials 

of blood pressure lowering in hypertension: A critical reappraisal. Circ Res 

116(6):1058–73. 2015.

4. Yoon SS, Fryar CD, Carroll MD. Hypertension prevalence and control 

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Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015. Available from:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db220.pdf.

5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease 

Prevention and Health Promotion. Healthy People 2020. Available from: 

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx.

6. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC, Green LA, Izzo 

JL Jr, et al. Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, 

Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension 

42(6):1206–52. 2003.

7. Crim MT, Yoon SS, Ortiz E, Wall HK, Schober S, Gillespie C, et al. 

National surveillance definitions for hypertension prevalence and control 

among adults. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 5(3):343–51. 2012.

8. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey (NHANES): Examination manuals 2013–2014, 

2015–2016. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/Default.aspx

9. Klein RJ, Schoenborn CA. Age adjustment using the 2000 projected 

U.S. population. Healthy People Statistical Notes, no 20. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2001.

10. National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint trend analysis software (Version 

4.4.0.0). 2017. Available from: https://surveillance.cancer.gov/joinpoint/.

 

.

Suggested citation

Fryar CD, Ostchega Y, Hales CM, Zhang G, 

Kruszon-Moran D. Hypertension prevalence 

and control among adults: United States, 

2015–2016. NCHS data brief, no 289. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2017.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S., Director

Ryne Paulose-Ram, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

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