Sherilyn Wong (25/5/2022)
Hypertension, the clinical term for high blood pressure, is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality [1] and the main risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. [2] It has a great global burden, with more than one billion adults in the world living with hypertension. Notably, there has been a shift in disease burden from higher to lower-income countries in the last few decades, with over 80% of people with hypertension living in low- and middle-income countries. [3] High blood pressure is defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. [4] However, more than half a billion people with hypertension are unaware they have it and are either undiagnosed or not receiving treatment.
To increase public awareness, World Hypertension Day was established by the World Hypertension League and is celebrated every year on May 17.
The theme for 2022 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”. [5]
Other initiatives have also been implemented throughout recent years. In 2016, the Global HEARTS Initiative was launched to improve preventative care for cardiovascular disease and aims to achieve a global reduction of hypertension prevalence by 25% by 2025. [6] In 2021, the World Health Organization also published new guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension to aid health professionals in diagnosis and management. [4]
As part of the global efforts to better manage hypertension, pharmacists, who are at the forefront of public and community healthcare, have an important role. Conversations with patients to emphasise the importance of regular check-ups with their doctor, providing advice on how to take their anti-hypertensive medications properly, and monitoring compliance as patients return for their next supply of medication. Promoting and demonstrating accurate blood pressure measurement techniques is also critical, as accurate blood pressure measurements directly influence clinical management decisions.
The importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle habits to control high blood pressure should not be understated, such as minimising intake of sodium, saturated and trans fats, reducing alcohol, and engaging in regular physical exercise. [7] These could be additional points of conversation with our patients, especially if their blood pressure unexpectedly gets out of control.
Let World Hypertension Day be a reminder to “Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, [and] Live Longer”.
REFERENCES
World Health Organization. The world health report 2002: reducing risks, promoting healthy life: World Health Organization; 2002.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. High blood pressure: Australian Government; (2017). Accessed May 12 2022. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/risk-factors/risk-factors-to-health/contents/high-blood-pressure.
World Health Organization. More than 700 million people with untreated hypertension. Geneva, Switzerland (2021). Accessed May 12, 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/25-08-2021-more-than-700-million-people-with-untreated-hypertension.
World Health Organization. Guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults. : Geneva; (2021). Accessed May 12, 2022. Available from:https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/344424/9789240033986-eng.pdf.
World Hypertension League. World Hypertension Day (2022). Accessed May 12 2022. Available from: https://whleague.org/about-us/world-hypertension-day.
Pan American Health Organization. World Hypertension Day (2020). Accessed May 12, 2022. Available from: https://www.paho.org/en/world-hypertension-day.
World Health Organization. World Hypertension Day 2019 Geneva(2019). Accessed May 16, 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/world-hypertension-day-2019/images/default-source/departments/ncds/cardiovascular-diseases/social-media-square/hypertension-is-preventable.
