High Blood Pressure: prevalence
Table 1 shows the estimated prevalence of high blood pressure in the adult population of Scotland (aged 16+), by gender over time, from the Scottish Health Survey. Estimates include all respondents with a valid blood pressure reading and data on medication prescribed for high blood pressure.
Table 1: Prevalence of high blood pressure (%) in Scotland by gender, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010
|
Men |
Women |
All adults | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2003 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2003 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
|
Normotensive |
67.0 |
66.1 |
64.6 |
62.1 |
67.3 |
68.6 |
69.1 |
66.7 |
67.2 |
67.4 |
67.0 |
64.5 |
|
Hypertensive controlled |
5.9 |
8.6 |
8.1 |
8.7 |
7.2 |
9.0 |
7.9 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
8.8 |
8.0 |
7.6 |
|
Hypertensive uncontrolled |
6.3 |
5.3 |
7.9 |
6.7 |
9.0 |
7.7 |
8.0 |
9.2 |
7.8 |
6.6 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
|
Hypertensive untreated |
20.7 |
20.1 |
19.3 |
22.6 |
16.6 |
14.6 |
14.9 |
17.4 |
18.5 |
17.2 |
17.0 |
19.9 |
|
All with high blood pressure |
33.0 |
33.9 |
35.4 |
37.9 |
32.7 |
31.4 |
30.9 |
33.3 |
32.8 |
32.6 |
33.0 |
35.5 |
Source: Scottish Health Survey
The data in Table 1 show that just over one third of the adult population in Scotland has high blood pressure. In 2010, almost 20% of adults had high blood pressure but were not receiving treatment, 23% of men and 17% of women. Fifteen percent of men and 16% of women were on treatment for high blood pressure. Of those on treatment, 56% of men and 42% of women had a normal blood pressure.
Table 2 and Chart 1 (view chart) present the most recent prevalence estimates broken down by age as well as gender. The estimates are for 2008/2009 combined as smaller sample sizes in the Scottish Health Survey from 2008 onwards do not allow disaggregation by age for a single year.
Table 2: Prevalence of high blood pressure (%) in Scotland by gender and age, 2008/09
| Age (years) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75+ | All ages | |
| MEN | ||||||||
| Normotensive | 90.6 | 87.1 | 77.8 | 67.8 | 47.2 | 28.1 | 33.4 | 65.5 |
| Hypertensive controlled | - | 0.4 | 1.7 | 7.3 | 19.1 | 20.9 | 18.1 | 8.4 |
| Hypertensive uncontrolled | - | - | 3.0 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 23.9 | 19.4 | 6.9 |
| Hypertensive untreated | 9.4 | 12.5 | 17.6 | 17.3 | 27.9 | 27.1 | 29.1 | 19.2 |
| All with high blood pressure | 9.4 | 12.9 | 22.2 | 32.2 | 52.8 | 71.9 | 66.6 | 34.5 |
| WOMEN | ||||||||
|
Normotensive |
99.3 | 95.0 | 89.1 | 69.1 | 52.4 | 33.3 | 29.1 | 68.6 |
|
Hypertensive controlled |
- | - | 2.2 | 9.1 | 11.5 | 20.1 | 21.4 | 8.6 |
|
Hypertensive uncontrolled |
- | - | - | 4.9 | 11.1 | 19.6 | 29.3 | 8.2 |
|
Hypertensive untreated |
0.7 | 5.0 | 8.7 | 16.9 | 25.0 | 27.0 | 20.2 | 14.7 |
|
All with high blood pressure |
0.7 | 5.0 | 10.9 | 30.9 | 47.6 | 66.7 | 70.9 | 31.4 |
Source: Scottish Heath Survey
The data in Table 2 show that the prevalence of high blood pressure increases with age such that more than two thirds of the population aged over 75 have high blood pressure.
Definitions used in Tables 1 and 2:1
- 'Normotensive' means systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, not currently taking any drug specifically prescribed to treat high blood pressure.
- 'Hypertensive controlled' means systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, currently taking a drug specifically prescribed to treat high blood pressure.
- 'Hypertensive uncontrolled' means systolic blood pressure ≥140mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90mmHg and patients are taking medicine prescribed for high blood pressure.
- 'Hypertensive untreated' means systolic blood pressure ≥140mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90mmHg and patients are not taking medicine prescribed for high blood pressure.
Please note: If you require the most up-to-date data available, please check the data sources directly as new data may have been published since these data pages were last updated. Although we endeavour to ensure that the data pages are kept up-to-date, there may be a time lag between new data being published and the relevant ScotPHO web pages being updated.