Between now and 2050, 79 million heart attacks and 17 million episodes of heart failure may be avoided if more people received appropriate treatment for their hypertension at the levels seen in high-performing nations.
One in three persons worldwide suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg, which increases their risk of kidney damage, heart attack, stroke, and other illnesses.
Between 1990 and 2019, the number of persons with hypertension more than doubled, from 650 million to 1.3 billion. The majority of them reside in nations with low and moderate incomes.
Four out of five people with high blood pressure do not receive sufficient therapy, and over half of those who have hypertension are unaware of their illness.
According to the WHO research, preventing hypertension, detecting it early, and managing it well are some of the health care measures that are most cost-effective, with a benefit to cost ratio of roughly 18 to 1.
“Hypertension control programs remain neglected, under-prioritized and vastly underfunded. Strengthening hypertension control must be part of every country’s journey towards universal health coverage, based on well-functioning, equitable and resilient health systems, built on a foundation of primary health care,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a statement.
According to the WHO, high-performing nations like Canada and South Korea provided extensive national hypertension treatment programmes, and both of those nations exceeded the 50% threshold for blood pressure control in adults with hypertension.
The papers list lifestyle modifications that could lower blood pressure, like eating a healthier diet, consuming less sodium, giving up alcohol and cigarettes, and engaging in regular physical activity.
The WHO also emphasises the requirement for consistent, unhindered access to cheap medication to ensure successful treatment of hypertension.
In a report released in March, the WHO urged “massive efforts” to lower salt consumption worldwide since it raises the risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and early mortality.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hypertension contributed to or was the leading cause of 691,095 deaths in the United States in 2021 and has a yearly economic impact of $131 billion.
