HBP May Pose Major Risks for Young Veterans After 9/11

Approximately half a million post-9/11 U.S. Veterans who served in the military have had high blood pressure, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Among this group, about half were undiagnosed and one quarter were untreated, highlighting significant gaps in detection and management of hypertension in a younger veteran population.

The study analyzed data from approximately 1.1 million younger post-9/11 veterans accessing care through the Veterans Health Administration, with participants having an average age of about 33 years at the time of the study. Researchers found that nearly half of this cohort had high blood pressure, making it a prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in this demographic.

Men and Black veterans were more likely to have high blood pressure compared to other groups within the study population. While women were less likely to have high blood pressure their hypertension was more likely to be undiagnosed when present. Hispanic veterans were also more likely to have undiagnosed high blood pressure.

Lead study author Tiffany Chang, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, emphasized that preventing, managing, and controlling high blood pressure are essential for protecting cardiovascular health in all adults, including younger adults and those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.