Ten Facts About High Blood Pressure and Chronic Kidney Disease

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the United States and one of the most common problems that can seriously harm the kidneys. Severe high blood pressure can harm kidney function over a relatively short period of time. However, even mild forms of high blood pressure damage kidneys over several years. High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms in its early stages.

  1. About 73 million Americans, or one out of three adults aged 20 and older, have high blood pressure. Only 71.8 percent are aware of their condition, 61.4 percent are being treated and 35.1 percent have their high blood pressure under control.1
  2. The top number in a blood pressure measurement is called the systolic pressure. This measures the force of blood against the walls of the arteries when the heart is pumping.  The lower number is called the diastolic pressure. This measures the force of the blood when the heart is between beats. Both numbers are important and need to be controlled.3
  3. High blood pressure is defined as systolic pressure of 140 or higher or diastolic pressure of 90 or higher.2 However, people who have blood pressures from 120/80 to 139/89 may be at increased risk for developing high blood pressure and should follow healthy lifestyle modifications such as losing excess weight, avoiding salt in the diet and exercising regularly.  High blood pressure should not be diagnosed on the basis of a single reading. Initial elevated readings should be confirmed on at least two follow-up visits.3

    In people with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, blood pressure over 130/80 is considered high.5
  4. In 90 to 95 percent of the cases, no specific cause is identified for high blood pressure. However, certain individuals have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure include older persons, people with a family history of high blood pressure, people who are overweight, and some population groups including African Americans.3
  5. Elevated blood pressure usually causes no symptoms.  For this reason, it is important to have regular checkups to detect high blood pressure.  If high blood pressure is diagnosed, it is equally important to follow the doctor's advice and take medications exactly as prescribed.3
  6. High blood pressure can affect anyone at any age. Even children can have high blood pressure, although it is less common. Regular (high) blood pressure checkups should begin in childhood and continue throughout life.3
  7. High blood pressure and chronic kidney disease are closely related. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure is the primary diagnosis for about 28 percent of the new cases of kidney failure each year, and 25 percent of all cases of kidney failure.4 It is second only to diabetes as the leading cause of end stage kidney disease – which requires treatment with an artificial kidney (dialyzer) or kidney transplantation to stay alive.4
  8. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk for heart attacks and stroke. When high blood pressure is controlled, the threat of these complications is greatly reduced.3
  9. The prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans in the U.S. is among the highest in the world. African-Americans develop high blood pressure at an earlier age than white Americans, and their average blood pressures are much higher. More specifically, African Americans are 4.2 times more likely than Caucasians to develop hypertension-related end stage kidney disease. African-Americans also have higher death rates from causes related to high blood pressure. In 2004, for example, the death rates per 100,000 population from high blood pressure were 15.6 for white men, 49.9 for black men, 14.3 for white women and 40.6 for black women.1
  10. Many effective drugs are available for treating high blood pressure.  Additionally, scientific evidence also points to a key role for lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, smoking cessation, limited salt intake and regular exercise, in regulating blood pressure.  In general, the goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure to below 140/90. However, in people with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, blood pressure should be reduced to below 130/80.2

Sources Facts and Statistics:

  1. American Heart Association, High Blood Pressure Statistics fact sheet (www.americanheart.org)
  2. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VII); National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (www.nhlbi.nih.gov)
  3. “High Blood Pressure and Your Kidneys” from the National Kidney Foundation
  4. U.S. Renal Data System 2006 Annual Data Report (www.usrds.org)
  5. NKF-K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hypertension and Anti-Hypertensive Agents in Chronic Kidney Disease

September 2008

Back to top