A new study from Yale University has found a worrying trend: the number of older Americans being hospitalized for dangerous spikes in blood pressure has more than doubled in the last 20 years. This rise is happening even though there have been national efforts to control high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
The study looked at hospital records of Medicare patients aged 65 and older from 1999 to 2019. It found that more and more people are being admitted to the hospital for very high blood pressure, a condition called a hypertensive emergency.
These emergencies happen when blood pressure suddenly rises to unsafe levels, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and damage to organs like the kidneys and brain.
Overall, the number of hospitalizations for hypertensive emergencies increased by 5.6% every year during the 20-year period. Among Black Americans, the increase was even higher—about 6% each year. In fact, from 2017 to 2019, Black patients were hospitalized for hypertensive emergencies three times more often than patients from other racial groups.
These emergencies can happen when the top number in a blood pressure reading (called systolic pressure) goes above 130 mm Hg, or the bottom number (called diastolic pressure) goes above 80 mm Hg. When that happens quickly, it can be very dangerous if not treated immediately.
The lead author of the study, Yuan Lu, says these findings are serious. She and her team believe that many people may not know they have high blood pressure, may not be managing it well, or may not be getting the right medical care.
One important finding from the study is that where people live seems to make a difference. The highest rates of hospitalizations were seen in the South of the United States. This area has long been known as the “stroke belt” because people there have high rates of strokes and heart disease. Reasons for this may include access to healthcare, poverty, diet, and other lifestyle factors.
The results also showed that Black Americans face a bigger risk. They have higher rates of high blood pressure and are more likely to have complications from it. These differences show that more needs to be done to help communities that are more affected by this condition.
Even though there have been improvements in diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, this study shows that some people are still being left behind. It’s a reminder that current health strategies may not be working well enough, especially for people in high-risk groups and areas.
The study was published in the journal Circulation and brings attention to an urgent public health problem. Since high blood pressure is something that can be managed, these findings show that better care and more support are needed—especially for older adults and people in vulnerable communities.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
