Research opportunities and directions on the blood pressure problem. Combining predictors.

While only a small percentage of the population has high blood pressure, a much larger segment of the US population has a high-normal (above optimal) blood pressure, and is at increased risk for hypertension and its cardiovascular sequelae. Hypertension is thus a population-wide problem and must be approached in much the manner of other epidemic diseases. This paper examines some recent population studies and proposes directions for future research.