Uncontrolled and Apparent Treatment Resistant Hypertension in the United States, 1988 to 2008

BACKGROUND: Despite progress, many hypertensive patients remain uncontrolled. Defining characteristics of uncontrolled hypertensives may facilitate efforts to improve blood pressure control. METHODS AND RESULTS: Subjects included 13,375 hypertensive adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANESs) subdivided into 1988 to 1994, 1999 to 2004, and 2005 to 2008. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/≥90 mm Hg and apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) when subjects reported taking ≥3 antihypertensive medications. Framingham 10-year coronary risk was calculated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify clinical characteristics associated with…