Mass Screenings Alone Won't Control the U.S. Hypertension Problem

Frieden is the leader of a global health non-profit and former director of the CDC.

Hypertension kills more people than any other condition. In the U.S., despite spending more than $4 trillion a year on healthcare, less than half of people with hypertension have their condition controlled even to below 140/90 mm Hg. This represents a massive, missed opportunity to save lives.

The evidence is clear: blood pressure control is the single most effective clinical intervention for preventing deaths in the U.S. A 2010 study found that every 10% increase in treatment for hypertension would lead to an additional 14,000 deaths prevented -- a larger impact than any other adult service in medicine. This is no surprise: each 20 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure doubles risk of death f