Tool H3: Hypertension prevalence ready-reckoner

This tool is designed to help you estimate the number of people within your primary care organisation's local area who have hypertension (blood pressure of 140/90mmHg or higher), treated and untreated, controlled and uncontrolled.

NB: Please note this ready-reckoner does not take account of ethnicity, deprivation or other factors that might affect hypertension prevalence, nor of recent changes in the proportion controlled. It can give only a rough approximation based on all-England data collected in 2003.

How to use the ready-reckoner

  1. In cells A1-A7 and B1-B7 enter the actual numbers of residents in each age group, based on latest population estimates for your area.
  2. Calculate the other cell values according to the formulae.

Go to online ready-reckoner

Example
The following is a worked example of how to use the ready-reckoner, based on 2003 mid-year population estimates (rounded) for Southwark Primary Care Trust, London. (Numbers are in 000s.)

Hypertension ready-reckoner
    Population of Southwark PCT(000s)   Estimate of num. of hypertensives(000s)
    Male Female   Male Female  
  Age A B   C D  
1 15-24 17.0 17.2   A1x0.06 = 1.02 B1x0.02 = 0.34  
2 25-34 29.5 25.9   A2x0.11 = 3.25 B2x0.05 = 1.30  
3 35-44 24.4 22.7   A3x0.20 = 4.88 B3x0.11 = 2.50  
4 45-54 13.0 13.1   A4x0.35 = 4.55 B4x0.23 = 3.01  
5 55-64 8.5 9.3   A5x0.51 = 4.34 B5x0.47 = 4.37  
6 65-74 6.4 7.4   A6x0.64 = 4.10 B6x0.64 = 4.74  
7 75 plus 4.6 7.5   A7x0.64 = 2.94 B7x0.75 = 5.63  
8 TOTALS Sum of A1-A7
= 103.4		 Sum of B1-B7
= 103.1		   Sum of C1-C7
= 25.08		 Sum of D1-D7
= 21.89		  
               
Of those who are hypertensive:
9 Estimated number receiving treatment:   C8x0.37 = 9.28

D8x0.46 = 10.07

  
10 Estimated number not receiving treatment:   C8x0.63 = 15.80 D8x0.54 = 11.82  
               
Of those receiving treatment:
11 Estimated number controlled:   C9x0.46 = 4.27 D9x0.44 = 4.43  
12 Estimated number uncontrolled:   C9x0.54 = 5.01 D9x0.56 = 5.64  

Thus:

The total estimated number of people in Southwark PCT with hypertension is:

C8 + D8 = 25.08 + 21.89 = 46.97 (000s)   = 46.970

The total estimated number of hypertensives not receiving treatment is:

C10 + D10 = 15.80 + 11.82 = 27.62 (000s) = 27.620

The total estimated number of those receiving treatment who are uncontrolled:

C12 + D12 = 5.01 + 5.64 = 10.65 (000s) = 10.650

*PCO = primary care organisation
Source: Formulae based on the Health Survey for England 2003

Hypertension prevalence ready-reckoner

Use this online calculator to estimate local prevalence. Simply fill in the cell values as per the instructions in 'How to use the ready-reckoner'.

Hypertension ready-reckoner
    PCO* population(000s)
(enter data in columns A+B)		   Estimate of num. of hypertensives(000s)
(automatically calculated)
    Male Female   Male Female  
  Age A B   C D  
1 15-24    
2 25-34    
3 35-44    
4 45-54    
5 55-64    
6 65-74    
7 75 plus    
8 TOTALS    
               
Of those who are hypertensive:
9 Estimated number receiving treatment:    
10 Estimated number not receiving treatment:    
               
Of those receiving treatment:
11 Estimated number controlled:    
12 Estimated number uncontrolled:    
*PCO = primary care organisation
Source: Formulae based on the Health Survey for England 2003

To print your calculations:
If you would like to print your calculations, simply click on 'File', then 'Print' within your internet browser.

If you have any queries please contact: Faculty of Public Health

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