High Blood Pressure Doubled Globally In 30 Years, Study Shows
Umer Jamshaid Published August 25, 2021 | 09:30 AM
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Aug, 2021 ) :The number of people living with high blood pressure more than doubled since 1990, according to a major study published on Wednesday that found half of all sufferers, about 720 million people, went untreated in 2019.
Hypertension is directly linked to more than 8.5 million deaths each year, and is the leading risk factor for stroke, heart and liver disease.
To find out how rates of hypertension have developed globally over the past 30 years, an international team from Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) analysed data from more than 1,200 national studies covering nearly every country in the world.
They used modelling to estimate high blood pressure rates across populations, as well as the number of people taking medication for the condition.
The analysis found that in 2019 there were 626 million women and 652 million men living with hypertension.
This represented roughly double the estimated 331 million women and 317 million men with the condition in 1990.
The analysis found that 41 percent of women and 51 percent of men with high blood pressure were unaware of their condition, meaning hundreds of millions of people were missing out on effective treatment.
"Despite medical and pharmacological advances over decades, global progress in hypertension management has been slow, and the vast majority of people with hypertension remain untreated," said Majid Ezzati from Imperial College London and senior study author.
In the analysis, published in The Lancet medical journal, Canada and Peru had the lowest proportion of high blood pressure among adults in 2019, with around 1-in-4 people living with the condition.
Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, and Britain had the lowest hypertension rates in women -- less than 24 percent -- while Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and the Solomon Islands had the lowest rates in men less than 25 percent.
At the other end of the spectrum, more than half of women in Paraguay and Tuvalu had hypertension; over half of men in Argentina, Paraguay, Tajikistan also have the condition, the analysis showed.
Authors of the research said it showed an urgent need to boost high blood pressure diagnosis and access to treatment.
Fewer than one in four women and one in five men globally are being treated for their condition.
Robert Storey, professor of Cardiology at the University of Sheffield, said Covid-19 had distracted governments from the reality of hypertension.
"The pandemic of cardiovascular disease has received less attention in the last 18 months but reflects concerning worldwide trends in unhealthy lifestyle choices such as high fat, sugar, salt and alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyles with avoidance of exercise, and smoking," said Storey, who was not involved in Wednesday's study.
"It is essential that best practice in government policy is adopted by all countries in order to avoid a time bomb of heart disease and stroke."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
President Raisi leaves for Iran from Karachi
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 24 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 24 April 2024
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
16 hours ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
2 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
3 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
3 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
3 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
3 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
5 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
9 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
10 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
10 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
13 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
15 days ago