When considered separately, higher levels of both SBP and DBP have been associated with increased Higher SBP has consistently been associ- ated with increased CVD risk after adjustment for, or within strata of, DBP.S2.2-3 S2.2-5 In contrast, after consideration of SBP through adjustment or stratification, DBP has not been con- sistently associated with CVD risk.S2.2-6,S2.2-7 Although pulse pressure and mid-BP have been associated with increased CVD risk independent of SBP and DBP in some studies, SBP (especially) and DBP are prioritized in the present document because of the robust evidence base for these measures in both observational studies and clinical tri- als and because of their ease of measurement in practice 2.3. Population Risk In 2010, high BP was the leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years worldwide.S2.3-1,S2.3-2 In the United States, hypertension (see Section 3.1 for definition) accounted for more CVD deaths than any other modifiable CVD risk factor and was second only to cigarette smoking as a preventable cause of death for any reason.S2.3-3 In a fol- low-up study of 23272 US NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) participants, >50% of deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke occurred among individuals with hypertension.S2.3-4 Because of the high prevalence of hypertension and its associated increased risk of CHD, stroke, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the population-attributable risk of these outcomes associated with hypertension is high.S2.3-4,S2.3-5 In the population-based ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study, 25% of the cardiovascular events (CHD, coronary revasculariza- tion, stroke, or HF) were attributable to hypertension. 