"Alarm bell" from WHO, hypertension threatens over 1 billion people, only 1 in 5 people have it under control

The World Health Organization has announced an alarming situation regarding the spread of uncontrolled hypertension on a global scale, emphasizing that this disease currently affects 1.4 billion people, while only 1 in 5 people have it under control.

According to the second global report on hypertension, gaps in prevention, diagnosis and treatment are most pronounced in low- and middle-income countries.

In many of these countries, access to WHO-recommended medicines is limited, while health infrastructure and human resources remain inadequate.

Only 28% of these countries report full availability of drugs for the treatment of hypertension in the primary care system, compared with 93% of high-income countries.

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes and chronic kidney disease. The organization warns that a lack of urgent action will lead to millions of premature deaths and high economic costs, estimated at $3.7 trillion this year for low- and middle-income countries.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries have the tools to change this reality if they invest in quality health services and integrate hypertension treatment into primary care. He highlighted that over 1,000 lives are lost every hour to preventable diseases.

The report highlights that a number of countries are making progress through strong health policies, increased awareness and improved access to treatment. However, challenges remain, ranging from a lack of blood pressure monitoring devices to expensive drugs, a lack of treatment protocols and weak information systems.

WHO is appealing for urgent reforms, financial support and political commitment to curb the spread of this silent disease, which is becoming a global public health crisis.Indeksonline/