Epidemiology

The worldwide prevalence of hypertension is around 31%, exceeding 1.3 billion people.[2][3][4]​ Of these, 1% to 2% will suffer a hypertensive crisis in their lifetime.[5][6]​ Rates of hypertensive emergencies have increased over the past 20 years; however, mortality rates have decreased and range from 0.2% to 11.0%.[7][8][9]

Men may be more likely than women to suffer a hypertensive emergency. Hypertensive emergency is more common in older patients and in black people.[10][11][12][13]​​​​ Preeclampsia complicates 2% to 8% of pregnancies globally.[14] Preeclampsia is more prevalent among African American women than among white women.[15][16][17]​​ Differences in prevalence may be, in part, due to African American women being disproportionately affected by risk factors for preeclampsia.[16]​ African American women also have case fatality rates related to preeclampsia three times higher than rates among white women.[16]​ Inequalities in access to adequate prenatal care may contribute to poor outcomes associated with preeclampsia in African American women.[16]​ However, UK data concerning ethnic differences in hypertension prevalence and complications are inconsistent.[18][19][20]

Lack of insurance or a primary care doctor and nonadherence to treatment all predispose toward development of hypertensive emergency.[21][22] As populations age globally, the prevalence of hypertension and therefore hypertensive emergency is expected to increase.[3]

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