Global epidemiology, health burden and effective interventions for elevated blood pressure and hypertension

Abstract

High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for ischaemic heart disease, stroke, other cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease and dementia. Mean blood pressure and the prevalence of raised blood pressure have declined substantially in high-income regions since at least the 1970s. By contrast, blood pressure has risen in East, South and Southeast Asia, Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa. Given these trends, the prevalence of hypertension is now higher in low-income and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. In 2015, an estimated 8.5 million deaths were attributable to systolic blood pressure >115 mmHg, 88% of which were in low-income and middle-income countries. Measures such as increasing the availability and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables, lowering the sodium content of packaged and prepared food and staples such as bread, and improving the availability of dietary salt substitutes can help lower blood pressure in the entire population. The use and effectiveness of hypertension treatment vary substantially across countries. Factors influencing this variation include a country’s financial resources, the extent of health insurance and health facilities, how frequently people interact with physicians and non-physician health personnel, whether a clear and widely adopted clinical guideline exists and the availability of medicines. Scaling up treatment coverage and improving its community effectiveness can substantially reduce the health burden of hypertension.

Abstract

In this Review, Zhou and colleagues summarize the current data on the global epidemiology of blood pressure and hypertension and evaluate changes over time. They also present estimates of the mortality effects of elevated blood pressure and discuss interventions that can reduce the burden of high blood pressure.

Key points

• Hypertension is more prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

• In 2015, 8.5 million deaths were associated with high blood pressure, 88% of which were in low-income and middle-income countries.

• Population-level measures, such as increasing the availability and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables and lowering the sodium content of packaged and prepared foods, can lower blood pressure in the entire population.

• Effective use of pharmacological treatment for people with hypertension varies substantially globally and is particularly low in low-income and middle-income countries.

• Scaling up treatment coverage and improving its effectiveness can substantially reduce the health burden of hypertension.