The World Health Organization (WHO) published a first-of-its-kind report during the 78th United Nations General Assembly session, focusing on the global implications of hypertension, or high blood pressure. The information from this report suggests that one in three adults globally suffers from hypertension, and treatment disparities have been observed among nations. This article aims to succinctly outline this pressing issue.
Key Highlights from WHO’s Report
The recent “Global report on hypertension: The race against a silent killer” commissioned by WHO presented startling statistics about the prevalence and treatment of hypertension worldwide. It revealed that hypertension cases have shockingly doubled from 650 million to 1.3 billion between 1990 and 2019, affecting an estimated one-third of all adults aged 30-79.
But what’s more alarming is that about 80% of individuals with hypertension do not receive proper treatment. This lack of adequate care is a significant concern as effective hypertension treatment could potentially prevent 76 million deaths and numerous cardiovascular diseases by 2050.
The Indian Scenario
In India, the situation is still severe but slightly better than the global average. Approximately 188.3 million adults aged 30–79 years suffer from hypertension. To achieve a 50% control rate, additional treatment needs to reach 67 million people suffering from hypertension. An optimistic estimation is that if this were achieved, it could avert 4.6 million deaths due to high blood pressure by 2040.
Disparity in Hypertension Treatment Coverage Worldwide
While the numbers are alarming across the board, treatment coverage for hypertension displays discrepancies among countries. High-income nations have a significantly higher coverage rate than lower-income countries. WHO reports indicate that the US leads with a coverage rate of 60%, while the African region lags behind at 27%. Furthermore, more than three-quarters of adults afflicted with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries.
The Urgency for Timely Hypertension Treatment
The report states that almost 30% of individuals with uncontrolled hypertension have high enough blood pressure readings to warrant urgent treatment. Globally, the percentage of adults aged 30–70 on medication for hypertension has increased from 22% in 1990 to 42% in 2019.
WHO’s Call to Action and Recommendations
In light of these findings, the WHO has called for prioritising the prevention, early detection, and effective management of hypertension as part of national health benefit packages. They also underline the need to strengthen hypertension control programs, which currently remain under-prioritized and severely underfunded.
Understanding Hypertension: The Silent Killer
Hypertension is a condition where the pressure within one’s blood vessels is too high, generally measured at 140/90 mmHg or higher. It can be attributed to factors like high-salt diets, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, and genetics. Most people with hypertension do not display any symptoms, making it a dangerous silent killer.
Complications of Uncontrolled Hypertension and its Treatment
If left untreated, hypertension can lead to severe heart issues such as chest pain, heart attacks, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, stroke, and other detrimental effects. Lifestyle changes such as adopting a low-salt diet, weight loss, increasing physical activity, and quitting tobacco, alongside proper medication, form the crux of hypertension treatment.
Global and Indian Initiatives against Hypertension
Various initiatives have been launched to address the growing problem of hypertension worldwide. The Global Hearts Initiative aims to reduce hypertension prevalence by 25% by 2025. Similarly, India launched the India Hypertension Control Initiative Program (IHCI) with a goal to standardize care for 75 million patients with hypertension or diabetes by 2025.
