The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that uncontrolled high blood pressure could put over 1.4 billion people at risk of premature death.

WHO, in its second Global Hypertension Report, released on Tuesday, showed that 1.4 billion people lived with hypertension in 2024, yet just over one in five have it under control either through medication or addressing modifiable health risks.

The new report was released at an event co-hosted by WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Resolve to Save Lives during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

It also reveals that only 28 per cent of low-income countries report that all WHO-recommended hypertension medications are generally available in pharmacies or primary care facilities.

Hypertension is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. It is both preventable and treatable—but without urgent action, millions of people will continue to die prematurely, and countries will face mounting economic losses.

From 2011 to 2025, cardiovascular diseases—including hypertension—are projected to cost low- and middle-income countries approximately US$3.7 trillion, equivalent to around two per cent of their combined GDP.

“Every hour, more than 1,000 lives are lost to strokes and heart attacks from high blood pressure, and most of these deaths are preventable,” WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said.

Stating that uncontrolled high blood pressure kills more than 10 million people yearly, Mr Ghebreyesus said that the political will, investment, and reforms should control hypertension.

“Countries that integrate hypertension care into universal health coverage and primary care are making real progress, but too many low- and middle-income countries are still left behind,” Kelly Henning, who leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Health Program, said.

Analysis of data from 195 countries and territories shows that 99 of them have national hypertension control rates below 20 per cent. The majority of affected people reside in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems often face resource constraints.

The report highlights major gaps in hypertension prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care.

Key barriers include weak health promotion policies (on risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, salt, and trans fats), limited access to validated blood pressure devices, lack of standardised treatment protocols, and trained primary care teams.

Other barriers include unreliable supply chains, costly medicines, inadequate financial protection for patients, and insufficient information systems to monitor trends.

Blood pressure medication is one of the most cost-effective public health tools. Yet, only seven out of 25 (28 per cent) low-income countries report general availability of all WHO-recommended medicines, compared to 93 per cent of high-income countries.

The report explores the barriers and strategies for improving access to hypertension medication through better regulatory systems, pricing and reimbursement, procurement and supply chain management, and improved prescribing and dispensing of these medicines.

Despite barriers, progress is still possible. Bangladesh, the Philippines, and South Korea have made significant progress by integrating hypertension care into universal health coverage (UHC), investing in primary care, and engaging communities.

Bangladesh increased hypertension control from 15 per cent to 56 per cent in some regions between 2019 and 2025 by embedding hypertension treatment services in its essential health service package and strengthening screening and follow-up care.

The Philippines has effectively incorporated the WHO’s HEARTS technical package into community-level services nationwide.

South Korea has integrated health reforms, including low costs for antihypertensive medications and limiting patient fees, which have resulted in a high rate of blood pressure control nationally: 59 per cent in 2022.

WHO, however, called on all countries to embed hypertension control in UHC reforms.

(NAN)