"The trends over time may be due in part to an increase in obesity among the men in the study," said Vasan. "Their average body mass index rose between the two periods. Women in the study did not have such a rise in body mass index."
He added that, "The decrease in the lifetime risk of developing Stage II or greater hypertension for both men and women probably resulted from an increased use of hypertension lowering drugs through the years."
Vasan cautions that the study was not ethnically diverse. He stresses that the lifetime risk of developing hypertension varies among individuals and depends on the presence of risk factors.
"Americans should see their doctor and have their blood pressure checked," Vasan said. "They can talk about their risk factors and the steps they can take to reduce their risk of hypertension. Americans don't necessarily have to develop high blood pressure as they get older. What they have to do is take preventive action."
To interview a scientist about this study, contact the NHLBI Communications Office at (301) 496-4236.