Summary

Hypertension is a global epidemic; yet rates of awareness, treatment, and control are lower than expected around the world, according to the results of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology [PURE] study. The overall prevalence of hypertension was approximately 41%, with fewer than half of people with hypertension being aware of the diagnosis or being treated for it, and only 13% of those with a diagnosis of hypertension having controlled blood pressure.