Meta-analysis on the therapeutic state of hypertensive population in Japan: focusing on the impact of new diagnostic criteria of Japanese Guideline for the Management of Hypertension 2000.

A Meta-analysis on the therapeutic state of hypertensive population in Japan is performed by the three nation-wide governmental surveys focusing on the impact of new diagnostic criteria described in the Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in Japan 2000. These surveys are the National Survey of Circulatory Disorders, National Nutrition Survey and Patient Survey in 1990. The meta-analysis approach is used to evaluate the validity and reliability of these three national data sets, particularly the National Nutrition Survey. The population with history of hypertensive treatment and without previous diagnosis was calculated using the old and new diagnostic criteria. The results of three national surveys are fairly consistent. National Nutrition survey can be used to monitor the overall therapeutic status of Japanese population if the definition is considered judiciously. The impact of new diagnostic criteria is extensive as demonstrated by the results of the analysis on the National Nutrition Survey of 1999. The hypertensive population doubled and one half of the Japanese population over the age of 30 is now defined as hypertensive. A policy to manage this newly diagnosed hypertensive population is urgently needed to lessen the burden on Japanese health care system.