Update from the National Hypertension Taskforce of Australia: prevalence, treatment and control rates of hypertension between 2022 and 2024 - implications and future directions.

Abstract

High blood pressure is the dominant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and death in Australia. The blood pressure control rate in Australia was reported at 32% based on 2017-2018 data, which is substantially lower than other high-income countries. New results from the National Health Survey show an improvement of the crude control rate to 39.6% in the years 2022-2023, though changes in methodology need to be considered in the interpretation. Hypertension prevalence has increased from 33.7 to 39.4%. The prevalence and control rates vary strongly across diverse population groups. The age-standardized prevalence among First Nations peoples is higher than in the general population (37.8 versus 35%), and age-standardized blood pressure control rates are lower (22.2 versus 31.1%). Younger individuals and those in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas have substantially lower control rates, highlighting the need for greater equity to achieve the National Hypertension Taskforce's goal of 70% blood pressure control by 2030.