Global Hypertension Treatment Gap Revealed

21 Sep 2023

On 19^th September, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its inaugural report on the global impact of hypertension, highlighting that approximately 80% of individuals with high blood pressure do not receive adequate treatment.

Key Points

Hypertension's Deadly Toll in India: A paper from the South-East Asia region identifies hypertension as India's leading risk factor for death and disability.
During 2016–2020, less than a quarter of hypertensive patients in India had their blood pressure under control, although there have been improvements.
Rising Prevalence in India: The 2019–2020 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reports a hypertension prevalence of 24% in men and 21% in women, up from 19% and 17% in the previous round (2015–16).
India's India Hypertension Control Initiative is recognized for its positive impact within the primary healthcare system.
Global Hypertension Epidemic: WHO reveals that one in three adults worldwide suffers from hypertension, a dangerous condition linked to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage, and other health issues.
Between 1990 and 2019, the number of individuals with hypertension doubled to 1.3 billion, with nearly half unaware of their condition.
Low and Middle-Income Countries Most Affected: Over three-quarters of adults with hypertension reside in low- and middle-income nations, underscoring the global health disparities associated with this condition.
Combatting Hypertension: The WHO advocates lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthier diet, quitting tobacco, and increasing physical activity to lower blood pressure.
Medications may also be necessary for effective hypertension management and complication prevention.
Cost-Effective Intervention: WHO emphasizes that preventing, detecting, and managing hypertension represent cost-effective healthcare interventions.
The economic benefits of improved hypertension treatment programs far outweigh the costs by an estimated 18 to 1.