High Blood Pressure Often Shared Between Spouses, Study Finds

Multinational study suggests cultural differences and shared lifestyle habits could play a role in 'concordant hypertension' among couples.

New multinational study reveals that high blood pressure is often shared between spouses, with 20% to 47% of middle-aged and older couples in the US, England, China, and India both having the condition.
The study, which is the largest of its kind to date, analyzed data from over 34,000 couples across the four countries, collected between 2015 and 2019.
The prevalence of 'concordant hypertension' was highest in England (47.1%) and the US (37.9%), followed by China (20.8%) and India (19.8%).
Researchers suggest that cultural differences may play a role, with couples in China and India more likely to share the same lifestyle habits compared to those in the US and England.
The study's authors recommend couple-centered strategies for managing hypertension, such as joint monitoring, exercise programs, and shared lifestyle changes.