<qa>  What is the most common chronic disease in the United States?Hypertension is a very common and serious chronic disease, which affects approximately 50 million people in the United States. Defined by systolic blood pressure SBP of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure DBP of 90 mm Hg or higher, hypertension increases the risk for adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Data from as early as the 1960s indicates that the disease disproportionately effects subgroups of the population, with non-Hispanic African Americans having an age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension 32.4 almost 40 higher than that noted in non-Hispanic whites 23.3 and Mexican Americans 22.6. Although hypertension-related mortality seems to be declining among African Americans, it continues to be a problem which disproportionately affects African Americans more than Whites, particularly in younger age groups. 