High BP cause of 13% global deaths, says expert

The largest proportion of NCD (non communicable diseases) deaths was caused by cardiovascular diseases (48%). In terms of attributable deaths, raised blood pressure was one of the leading behavioural and physiological risk factors, to which 13% of global deaths were attributed, said Prof Rishi Sethi here on Friday.

Prof Sethi, of the department of cardiology, King George’s Medical University (KGMU) who was one of the prominent researchers involved with the largestever study done on blood pressure in India in which over 1.8 lakh patients took part, shared World Health Statistics in the XI National Conference of Indian Society of Cardiology (ISC 2016) that started here on Friday.

Prof Sethi who was recently appointed as national chairman of STEMI Sub-Speciality Council of Cardiological Society of India, added: “High blood pressure is identified as biggest risk factor for CVDs - there are other significant risk factors like tobacco use, lack of exercise or unhealthy diet among others, but hypertension ranks at the top. The state and central governments must get alert because CVD mortality is increasing rapidly.”

He said the good news was that the risk factors were known so more efforts could be made to save lives from CVDs and other NCDs (cancers, diabetes, etc).

Prof Sethi, who is the organising secretary of ISC 2016 said, “In a multicenter study from India on awareness, treatment, and adequacy of control of hypertension, only about 25.6% of treated patients were found to have their BP under control,. We can do so much more if we can raise awareness and ensure people keep their BP under control, stay away from tobacco, eat properly and live healthy lives.”

Speakers in the conference discussed new methods of treatment and new medicines.