The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever report on the global impact of high blood pressure, revealing that approximately four out of every five people with hypertension globally are not adequately treated. Hypertension affects one in three adults worldwide and can lead to serious health problems like stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney damage.
Key findings from the report include:
- The number of people living with hypertension doubled between 1990 and 2019, from 650 million to 1.3 billion.
- Nearly half of people with hypertension globally are currently unaware of their condition.
- More than three-quarters of adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Modifiable risk factors such as high-salt diet, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of hypertension.
- Lifestyle changes like adopting a healthier diet, quitting tobacco, and being more physically active can help lower blood pressure.
- Effective management of hypertension through simple, low-cost medication regimens is crucial in preventing related complications.
- Prevention, early detection, and management of hypertension are among the most cost-effective healthcare interventions.
- Hypertension control programs are often neglected, under-prioritized, and underfunded.
The report emphasizes the need for countries to prioritize hypertension control through national health benefit packages offered at the primary care level. Strengthening hypertension control programs is seen as essential for achieving universal health coverage.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, highlighted the importance of controlling hypertension effectively, stating that it must be part of every country’s journey towards universal health coverage.
Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, noted that most heart attacks and strokes in the world can be prevented with affordable and accessible medicines and interventions, such as sodium reduction.
The report’s release coincides with the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where progress on health-related Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage is discussed.
Improving the prevention and control of hypertension is critical for achieving these global health goals and reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases worldwide.