A new study from Yale New Haven Hospital shows that delays in diagnosing high blood pressure (hypertension) are common and can lead to delays in starting treatment. This, in turn, increases the long-term risk of heart disease.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, looked at data from over 311,000 adults aged 18 to 85 who had at least two high blood pressure readings (140/90 mm Hg or higher) at least 30 days apart between 2010 and 2021.
Only 14.6% of these people received a formal diagnosis of hypertension soon after their second high reading. Many experienced delays, and this was linked to fewer people receiving blood pressure medications. Just 30.6% of those with a delayed diagnosis were prescribed medicine, compared to 75.2% of those diagnosed early.
The longer the delay in diagnosis, the higher the risk of heart problems over the next five years. People with delays of over one year had a 29% higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Even shorter delays increased risk slightly.
Certain groups faced longer delays in diagnosis: people under 65 years old, women, and Non-Hispanic Asian and Black adults
For example, people aged 45–64 had a median delay of 17.5 months, compared to 13.4 months for those 75 and older. Women had slightly longer delays than men, and non-Hispanic Asian and Black adults faced delays of more than 17 months on average.
The researchers suggest that using electronic health record (EHR) systems better could help doctors diagnose and treat high blood pressure sooner. Early action could lower the risk of serious health problems.
Some of the authors have connections to the pharmaceutical and healthcare data industries.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about common blood pressure medication that may extend your healthy life span and common high blood pressure drug linked to sudden cardiac arrest.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies that timing matters when taking high blood pressure pills and 1 in 5 people with high blood pressure taking a drug worsen the disease.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
