Despite increased awareness and treatment of high blood pressure, control rates among people at risk for kidney and cardiovascular problems is poor. Only one in 10 have blood pressure that falls within a healthy range, according to a new study published in the March American Journal of Medicine.

"It is unacceptable that barely 10% of people most at risk of kidney and cardiovascular problems have gotten their blood pressure under control," George Bakris, MD, director of the Hypertensive Diseases Unit at the University of Chicago, and lead author of the study said. "Studies show that high blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease, and hastens its progression to ...