High Blood Pressure: WHO Releases Staggering Number Of People At Risk

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has updated report on High Blood pressure, releasing a staggering number of people at risk of the condition.

The report shows that Nigeria is among low income countries where many more in their population have become more vulnerable high blood pressure.

And this is because in these countries, only 28% of recommended hypertension medicines are available in pharmacies or primary care facilities.

This is one of the startling revelations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as contained in its second Global hypertension report.

The new report was released at an event co-hosted by WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Resolve to Save Lives during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

According to the WHO, hypertension is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.

Though preventable, millions of people will continue to die prematurely, and countries will face mounting economic losses, the agency warns except an urgnent action is taken.

It reckons that from 2011 to 2025,

With cardiovascular diseases–including hypertension, projected to cost low- and middle-income countries approximately US$ 3.7 trillion, equivalent to around 2% of their combined GDP, Adhanom Ghebreyesus said:

“Every hour, over 1000 lives are lost to strokes and heart attacks from high blood pressure, and most of these deaths are preventable,”

“Countries have the tools to change this narrative. With political will, ongoing investment, and reforms to embed hypertension control in health services, we can save millions and ensure universal health coverage for all.”

According to Dr Kelly Henning, who leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Health Programme, “Uncontrolled high blood pressure claims more than 10 million lives every year, despite being both preventable and treatable.

Countries that integrate hypertension care into universal health coverage and primary care are making real progress, but too many low- and middle-income countries are still left behind”.

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Major Gaps in Hypertension Prevention:

The report lists key barriers to include the following:

1. weak health promotion policies (on risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, salt, and trans fats), limited access to validated blood pressure devices,
2. lack of standardised treatment protocols and trained primary care teams,
3. unreliable supply chains and costly medicines,
4. inadequate financial protection for patients, and
5. insufficient information systems to monitor trends.

“Safe, effective, low-cost medicines to control blood pressure exist, but far too many people can’t get them,” said Dr Tom Frieden, President & CEO, Resolve to Save Lives. “Closing that gap will save lives — and save billions of dollars every year.”