# Prevalence of hypertension in Europe: a pooled analysis of 68,047 adults from 27 countries

## TL;DR

This study finds that hypertension is more common in older Europeans and varies by gender and region, with higher rates in Central/Eastern and Southern Europe.

## Contribution

The study provides pooled prevalence estimates of hypertension across 27 European countries, stratified by age, gender, and region.

## Key findings

- Hypertension prevalence increases with age, with the highest rates in those aged 80+ years.
- Men aged 50–64 had higher hypertension rates than women, but women over 80 had higher rates.
- Central/Eastern and Southern Europe showed consistently higher hypertension prevalence than Northern and Western regions.

## Abstract

This study analysed the prevalence of self-reported current/previous hypertension diagnosis in Europe.

We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2021−2022), covering 68,047 adults aged 50+ years across 27 countries. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated and stratified by gender, age group (50–64, 65–79, ≥80 years), and European regions.

Among individuals aged 50–64 years, men had a higher prevalence of hypertension diagnosis (39.4% vs. 33.5%). In the 65–79 age group, prevalence was comparable between genders (women: 63.1%, men: 62.6%). In the 80+ age group, women had higher prevalence (78.0% vs. 71.8%). Still, this pattern varied across European regions. Central/Eastern and Southern Europe consistently showed higher prevalence of hypertension compared with Northern and Western regions.

The prevalence of hypertension in Europe increases with ageing and differs by gender and region. The burden is greatest in Central/Eastern and Southern Europe, highlighting the need for region-specific strategies.