Hypertension in the High-Cardiovascular-Risk Populations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major killer in adults in the USA and around the world. Latest World Health Organization (WHO) data show than an estimated 17.3 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2008, representing 30% of all global deaths. Of these 7.3 million were due to coronary heart disease and 6.2 million due to stroke. WHO data estimates that, by 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from CVD, mainly from heart disease and stroke. CVD is projected to remain the leading causes of death worldwide [1]. In the United States alone cardiovascular disease causes one in three (approximately 800,000) deaths each year. Furthermore, the economic impact of CVD is astounding. For example, the total annual costs resulting from cardiovascular diseases are estimated at $444 billion [2].