title: Hypertension in Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is a key risk factor. However, population data based on blood pressure measurements in Germany are scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized blood pressure (BP) measurements and medication data from seven population-based studies conducted in Germany between 1994 and 2012 (66 845 participants, 25-74 years) were analyzed: the EPICPotsdam study (1994-1998, EPIC), the KORA-S4 Study (1999-2001) in Augsburg, and the Gutenberg Health Study (2007-2012, GHS) in Mainz/Mainz-Bingen provided data for descriptive comparisons. Time trends were analyzed based on identical study regions for the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998 (BGS98) and the German Health Examination Survey for Adults (2008-11, DEGS1) as well as the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) in Northeast Germany (1997-2001) and the SHIP-TREND study (2008-2012). BP data were adjusted for study-specific measurement devices based on calibration studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for study-specific measurement devices, mean systolic and diastolic BP values were lower and treatment proportions higher in recent (2007-2012) compared to older (1994-2001) studies. Mean BP decrease was most pronounced (systolic ≥ 10 mmHg) in the elderly (55-74 years). The regional SHIP-TREND data for Northeast Germany showed a decrease in mean systolic BP in young men aged 25 to 34 years; on a national level according to the DEGS1 data, however, no such decrease was observed for this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New data add evidence for lower BP in Germany. However, the prevention potential remains high. Future research based on population-based data should place a special focus on blood pressure data in young men.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Department 2: Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Berlin; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin Partner Site; German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Department of Epidemiology, Potsdam-Rehbrücke; Greifswald University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine B; University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Preventive Cardiology and Medical Prevention; Institute of Clinical Radiology, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
authors.forename: Hannelore
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neuhauser
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diederichs
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boeing
authors.forename: Stephan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jünger
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorbeer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meisinger
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weikert
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dörr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence