WHO CALLS FOR ACTION ON HYPERTENSION

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its inaugural report on the profound global impact of high blood pressure, along with recommendations for combatting the disease.

According to the report, nearly four out of every five individuals with hypertension do not receive adequate treatment. It states that by enhancing coverage, countries could prevent 76 million deaths between 2023 and 2050. Hypertension in Africa in particular is a growing concern. And Botswana appears to be no exception with a 36% prevalence of abnormal blood pressures being recorded.

Hypertension, a condition affecting one in three adults worldwide, is renowned for its potential to lead to severe health complications such as strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney damage, and more.

“The number of people living with hypertension (blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher or taking medication for hypertension) doubled between 1990 and 2019, from 650 million to 1.3 billion,” the report notes. Alarmingly, almost half of the global hypertensive population remains unaware of their condition, with over three-quarters residing in low and middle-income nations.

While factors like aging and genetics can elevate the risk of high blood pressure, lifestyle elements such as excessive salt consumption, physical inactivity, and alcohol overuse can also contribute to hypertension. The report emphasizes that adopting a healthier diet, quitting tobacco, and engaging in physical activity can effectively lower blood pressure. In some cases, medication may be necessary to manage hypertension and prevent related complications.

Prevention, early detection, and efficient management of hypertension are identified as highly cost-effective healthcare interventions, warranting prioritization at the primary care level within a nation’s health benefit package. The economic advantages of enhanced hypertension treatment programs outweigh their costs by a remarkable ratio of approximately 18 to one.

Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, asserts, “Hypertension can be controlled effectively with simple, low-cost medication regimens, and yet only about one in five people with hypertension have controlled it.” He underscores the neglect, underprioritization, and underfunding of hypertension control programs and advocates for their integration into universal health coverage efforts.

The report’s launch coincided with the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where progress on Sustainable Development Goals, including health objectives related to pandemic preparedness, ending tuberculosis, and achieving Universal Health Coverage, was discussed.

Better prevention and control of hypertension will be essential to progress in all of these.

“An increase in the number of patients effectively treated for hypertension to levels observed in high-performing countries could prevent 76 million deaths, 120 million strokes, 79 million heart attacks, and 17 million cases of heart failure between now and 2050,” he said.