According to the inaugural report on the global impact of high blood pressure released by the World Health Organization, around 80% of individuals with hypertension worldwide are not receiving adequate treatment. The report reveals that hypertension affects one in three adults across the globe, leading to severe health issues such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage, among others.
The number of people with high blood pressure, defined as 140/90 mmHg or higher or those taking hypertension medication, has doubled from 650 million to 1.3 billion between 1990 and 2019. Nearly half of those affected are unaware of their condition. Over three-quarters of adults with hypertension reside in low- and middle-income countries.
The report emphasizes that while factors like age and genetics increase the risk of high blood pressure, modifiable aspects such as a high-salt diet, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption also contribute.
It advocates lifestyle changes like a healthier diet, tobacco cessation, and increased physical activity to lower blood pressure. Additionally, it emphasizes the necessity of proper medications for effective hypertension control and prevention of associated complications.
Prevention, early detection, and efficient management of hypertension are considered highly cost-effective healthcare interventions and should be prioritized by countries within their national health benefit packages at a primary care level.
The economic gains from improved hypertension treatment programs outweigh the costs significantly. Despite the availability of simple, low-cost medication regimens, only about one in five individuals with hypertension have it under control, highlighting the need for strengthened hypertension control programs.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, stresses that hypertension control programs are underfunded and must become integral to every country’s journey toward universal health coverage, built on a robust foundation of primary healthcare.
This report is being launched during the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, addressing progress for the Sustainable Development Goals, including health goals related to pandemic preparedness, ending tuberculosis, and achieving Universal Health Coverage. Improving prevention and control of hypertension is deemed crucial for progress in all of these areas.
