A new study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that approximately half a million post-9/11 U.S. veterans have high blood pressure, with about half undiagnosed and one quarter untreated. The research, among the first to examine high blood pressure in younger post-9/11 veterans averaging 33 years old, underscores significant disparities by sex, race, and ethnicity.
Lead study author Tiffany Chang, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasized the importance of preventing and managing high blood pressure to protect cardiovascular health, particularly in younger adults and those at increased risk. Veterans have higher rates of risk factors such as posttraumatic stress disorder and combat exposure, which may contribute to elevated blood pressure compared to non-veterans.
Using electronic health records from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), researchers analyzed data from over one million post-9/11 veterans. Nearly half (45%) met the clinical definition of high blood pressure. Men were more likely than women to have high blood pressure and also had higher rates of smoking, alcohol or drug use, obesity, and diabetes. Women were 5% less likely to have high blood pressure, but those who did were 17% more likely to be undiagnosed.
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 be undiagnosed or untreated. Hispanic veterans were 5% more likely to have undiagnosed high blood pressure and 7% more likely to be untreated, compared with white veterans.
Daniel W. Jones, M.D., M.A.C.P., FAHA, an American Heart Association volunteer expert and past president, noted that these findings are disturbing because so many young adults are undiagnosed and untreated despite being in the VHA system. Without proper management, they face increased risks of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and kidney disease.
The researchers stress the need for early prevention strategies and a heart-healthy lifestyle starting at a young age. The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 metrics—including healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco cessation, and healthy sleep—are key to optimal heart health. The study also highlights that between 2021 and 2023, almost half of all U.S. adults (47.3%) had high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Statistical Supplement.
The study included 1,181,007 post-9/11 veterans with an average age of 33.5 years, about 12% women, who received care through the VHA between 2001 and 2023. High blood pressure was defined using outpatient blood pressure measurements (≥140/90 mm Hg), medical diagnoses, and prescription fills for blood pressure-lowering medications. Limitations include the observational nature and potential misclassification, as well as lack of data on care outside the VHA.
This research serves as a critical reminder of the high burden of high blood pressure among younger veterans and the importance of targeted interventions for higher-risk populations, including Black and Hispanic veterans.
