[Epidemiological characteristic of hypertension in Japan]

Sixty percent and 45% of Japanese men and women, aged over 30 years have hypertension, respectively. The number of hypertensive patients in Japan was estimated to be about 43 million. The treatment rate and the control rate have also increased during the past 30 years. The control rate has reached about 30 and 40% in men and women, respectively. The annual number of deaths due to hypertension in Japan is estimated to be about 100,000. Approximately 50% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 50% or more of deaths from stroke are estimated to be attributed to high blood pressure levels beyond optimal values. Among blood pressure parameters, systolic blood pressure more strongly predicts the cardiovascular disease risk.