A study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association reports that nearly half a million post-9/11 U.S. veterans have high blood pressure, and among them, about half were undiagnosed and one quarter were untreated. The research, conducted using electronic health records from the Veterans Health Administration, examined data from over one million veterans with an average age of 33 years.
Lead study author Tiffany Chang, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the importance of early prevention, noting that veterans have higher rates of risk factors such as posttraumatic stress disorder and direct combat exposure that may contribute to increased high blood pressure risk compared to non-veterans. The study found that 45% of men and women veterans met the clinical definition of high blood pressure, with men more likely to have the condition than women. However, women with high blood pressure were 17% more likely to be undiagnosed.
Racial and ethnic disparities were also evident. Black veterans were 9% more likely to have high blood pressure compared with white veterans, but they had more primary care visits and were less likely to have undiagnosed or untreated high blood pressure. Hispanic veterans were 5% more likely to have undiagnosed high blood pressure and 7% more likely to have untreated high blood pressure compared with white veterans.
Daniel W. Jones, M.D., M.A.C.P., FAHA, an American Heart Association volunteer expert and past president of the Association, commented on the findings, calling it disturbing that so many cases were undiagnosed and untreated despite veterans being seen in the VA health system. He warned that if not managed, many young adults will experience heart disease, stroke, dementia, and kidney disease as a result of high blood pressure.
The researchers highlight the need for strategies promoting a heart-healthy lifestyle starting at a young age, aligning with the American Heart Association's Life’s Essential 8™ metrics. According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Statistical Supplement, almost half of all people in the U.S. had high blood pressure between 2021 and 2023.
The study, which included 1,181,007 post-9/11 veterans with an average age of 33.5 years and about 12% women, defined high blood pressure using outpatient blood pressure measurements of ≥140/90 mm Hg, documented medical diagnosis codes, and prescription fills for blood pressure-lowering medications. The analysis examined differences by sex, race, and ethnicity. Limitations include the observational nature of the study and the potential for missed or misclassified cases of high blood pressure, as well as the lack of data on care received outside the Veterans Health Administration.
