A new report from WHO. Overview and extracts below.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240115569
OVERVIEW
The second Global report on hypertension highlights the urgent need to scale up detection, treatment, and control of hypertension, especially at the primary health care level. It showcases proven solutions, country successes, and clear recommendations for governments and partners. Ensuring reliable access to affordable, quality-assured antihypertensive medicines and validated blood pressure devices is highlighted as a cornerstone of effective care. By prioritizing hypertension control, countries can save millions of lives, reduce health care costs, and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also contains information on the global, regional and country-level burden of hypertension and progress of control efforts.
EXTRACTS
'In 2024, an estimated 1.4 billion people aged 30–79 years were affected worldwide, yet fewer than 1 in 5 (320 million) had the condition adequately controlled...
'Key elements of a successful hypertension control public health programme include:
• Health promotion and prevention: Increasing health literacy and awareness on hypertension...
• Accurate and timely diagnosis: ...adopting national policies and guidelines to include routine blood pressure measurement into primary care.
• Treatment...
• Continuity of care and adherence...
'Raise public awareness of the silent nature and dangers of hypertension...
'Most individuals with elevated blood pressure have no symptoms and are unaware of their condition until serious health issues arise, earning it the designation, “silent killer”
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org