receive no treatment. Only 38% of men and 23% of
women over 80 achieve the JNC-7 recommended level of
BP control (< 140/90 or < 130/80 mmHg if co-existing
diabetes or renal insufficiency are present).
Failure to increase antihypertensive medication is cited
as one of the reasons why the Healthy People 2010 goal of
achieving a BP < 140/90 mmHg in 50% of known
hypertensive patients has not been achieved. A 2006
study of more than 7000 hypertensive patients uncovered
“therapeutic inertia” (defined as failure to add new medications
or to increase existing medications in hypertensive
patients not meeting their treatment goal of BP < 140/90),
in 89% of patients having 4 or more visits.