Hypertension-related Mortality in the United States, 2000–2013

Hypertension is a chronic condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other diseases that can result in premature death. Reducing the number of persons in the population with hypertension is one of the objectives of Healthy People 2020.

Using national multiple cause-of-death data files from the National Vital Statistics System, a new NCHS report presents trends in hypertension-related mortality for 2000–2013 by selected demographic characteristics and the underlying causes of hypertension-related death. Hypertension-related mortality is defined by any mention of hypertension on the death certificate. Because about 2% of all decedents with hypertension reported on the death certificate were under age 45, only decedents aged 45 and over were included in this analysis.

Key Findings from the Report:

• The age-adjusted hypertension-related death rate increased 23.1%, whereas the rate for all other causes combined decreased 21.0% from 2000 through 2013.
• Rates for hypertension-related death increased for both sexes aged 45–64 and 85 and over from 2000 through 2013.
• The age-adjusted hypertension-related death rate increased for all Hispanic origin and race groups examined from 2000 through 2005. Since then, the rate for the non-Hispanic white population continued to increase, whereas the rate for the non-Hispanic black population decreased.
• Although the age-adjusted hypertension-related death rate for the non-Hispanic black population was higher than for the non-Hispanic white and Hispanic populations throughout the period, the gap between them narrowed.