U.S. Adults with Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes Face Increased Mortality Risk

A growing number of U.S. adults are living with both hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2D), with prevalence doubling from 6% to 12% between 1999 and 2018, according to a study analyzing nearly 49,000 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This dual burden more than doubles the risk of all-cause mortality and triples the risk of cardiovascular death compared to those without either condition, with women experiencing even stronger associations. The study also highlights that even prediabetes combined with elevated blood pressure significantly increases mortality risk by up to 19%, underscoring the importance of early intervention. Given that nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension and about 15% have T2D, with over a third having prediabetes, these findings stress the urgent need for targeted public health strategies to prevent and manage these intertwined conditions. Researchers emphasize that addressing the combined impact of these cardiometabolic diseases is essential for reducing morbidity, extending lifespan, and improving quality of life. The research, published in Diabetes Care, calls for enhanced population-level efforts to combat the rising co-occurrence of hypertension and T2D and their devastating health consequences.