Hypertension: variations in prevalence in the black population

Prevalence trends in hypertension in black men and women show an inversion at about ages 45 to 54 years. Incidence, mortality, and treatment of hypertension after age 35 can probably be related to this inversion. Incidence data are inconsistent and scanty. Morbidity data are incomplete and mostly unreliable. Mortality data partially explain the inversion. Long-term epidemiologic studies of hypertension in black elderly persons are needed to explain these variations in prevalence, which may have a beneficial impact on treatment and prognosis.