Worldwide, raised blood
pressure is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths, about 12.8% of the total of
all deaths. This accounts for 57 million disability adjusted life years (DALYS)
or 3.7% of total DALYS. Raised blood pressure is a major risk factor for
coronary heart disease and ischemic as well as hemorrhagic stroke. Blood
pressure levels have been shown to be positively and continuously related to the
risk for stroke and coronary heart disease. In some age groups, the risk of
cardiovascular disease doubles for each increment of 20/10 mmHg of blood
pressure, starting as low as 115/75 mmHg. In addition to coronary heart diseases
and stroke, complications of raised blood pressure include heart failure,
peripheral vascular disease, renal impairment, retinal hemorrhage and visual
impairment. Treating systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure until
they are less than 140/90 mmHg is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular
complications.
Globally, the overall prevalence of raised blood pressure in adults aged 25 and
over was around 40% in 2008. The proportion of the world’s population with high
blood pressure, or uncontrolled hypertension, fell modestly between 1980 and
2008. However, because of population growth and ageing, the number of people
with uncontrolled hypertension rose from 600 million in 1980 to nearly 1 billion
in 2008.
Across the income groups of countries, the prevalence of raised blood pressure
was consistently high, with low, lower middle and upper middle countries all
having rates of around 40%. The prevalence in high income countries was lower,
at 35%.
Prevention and control of high blood pressure
Detecting high blood pressure is the first step in preventing and controlling
it. On this year’s World Health Day, WHO is calling on all adults around the
world to get their blood pressure measured. When people know their blood
pressure level, they can take steps to control it.
“Our aim today is to make people aware of the need to know their blood pressure,
to take high blood pressure seriously, and then to take control,” says Dr
Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.
People can cut the risks of high blood pressure by:
Consuming less salt
Eating a balanced diet
Engaging in regular physical activity
Avoiding tobacco use
Avoiding harmful use of alcohol.
Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
In 2012, at the WHO World Health Assembly, governments decided to adopt a global
target of a 25% reduction in premature death from non-communicable diseases by
2025.
“Global leaders have agreed preventing and controlling high blood pressure is an
important step to achieving this target,” says Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO Assistant
Director-General for Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health.
The WHO campaign to encourage people to measure their blood pressure is a
response to the United Nations Political Declaration on Non-communicable
Diseases, which was adopted by Heads of State and Government in September 2011.
The Declaration commits countries to make greater efforts to promote public
awareness campaigns to further the prevention and control of non-communicable
diseases such as heart disease and stroke, cancers, diabetes, and chronic
respiratory diseases.
“Early detection of high blood pressure and lowering heart attack and stroke
risk is clearly far less expensive for individuals and governments than heart
surgery, stroke care, dialysis, and other interventions that may be needed later
if high blood pressure is left unchecked and uncontrolled,” says Dr Shanthi
Mendis, Acting Director of the WHO Department for Management of Noncommunicable
Diseases.
Government Responsibilities:
Government supports national efforts to develop high-level policies and plans to
prevent and control noncommunicable diseases, as well as programmes related to
advocacy, community mobilization, environmental interventions, health system
organization and delivery, legislation and regulation. WHO has guidance for
Member States for implementing affordable and effective solutions to reduce
health and financial burden linked to hypertension, such as putting in place
tools to manage total cardiovascular risk approach in primary health settings.
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of
the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year, a theme is selected to highlight a
priority area of public health concern in the world.