JNC-7 definition of hypertension needs alteration

Abstract OBJECTIVES By altering JNC-7 definition of hypertension as per our modified definition, we tried to find out the difference in prevalence of hypertension. Our modified definition is 1 mmHg less than JNC-7 criteria. METHODS We did the analysis of data collected in Belgaum Hypertension Prevalence Study conducted by KLE University Belgaum; to know the difference between the JNC-7 classified group and modified classification what we thought can change the hypertension statistics. RESULTS According to JNC-7, only 16.3% population in our study were in normal group while 41.1% had come in pre-hypertension group and 42.6% were in hypertensive group. According to our proposed modified definition, nearly double the populations i.e. 37.4% were in normal group, 40.2% remained in pre-hypertension group and only 22.4% were in hypertension group. CONCLUSION This statistics significantly altered prevalence of hypertension from 42.6% to 22.4% indicating that by making 1 mmHg alteration in number, the prevalence could be brought down by 20.2%. This simple alteration of figure by 1 mmHg can put more than 20% of people in normal group as compared to pre-hypertensive group of JNC-7, thereby reducing the agony and psychological torture.