The battle against high blood pressure (hypertension) is a global challenge, and while developed countries have enjoyed reductions in cardiovascular disease over recent decades, new research shows that high blood pressure is on the increase in many Latin American countries, a situation set to worsen unless immediate action is taken.

The researchers have detailed the evidence in their article "High blood pressure in Latin America: a call to action", and offer specific recommendations to remedy the situation. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the burden of high blood pressure across Latin America.

Increasing rates of high blood pressure and chronic diseases, coupled with expected increases in population growth present a mounting threat to Latin American economies.

As life expectancy increases the most common health issues are shifting from dealing with acute disease to more expensive and complex chronic diseases. The chronic disease scenario is already common in developed countries, evidenced by the fact that cardiovascular disease makes up 11% of the global disease burden, leading to some 17.7 million deaths each year. Rapidly developing nations, like many in Latin America, still have a relatively high burden of infectious and communicable disease. The added increase in cardiovascular disease means these countries shoulder a 'double burden' of disease. In fact experts have noted that middle- and low-income regions have a five-fold greater disease burden, but have access to less than one tenth of global treatment resources.

"These dismal observations warrant a call to action for improved control of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors across Latin America," says Luis Alcocer, one of the study authors. "Achieving these ambitious goals will require collaborative efforts by many groups, including policymakers, international organizations, healthcare providers, schools and society as a whole."

In terms of core policy, regional policy makers must be alerted to the benefits of high blood pressure detection and control and make this a major public health priority. Leaders must provide resources to empower and train health professionals to detect, diagnose, treat and control high blood pressure, and these must include effective treatments and interventions. It is vital to launch high blood pressure detection and management campaigns. Education and awareness promotion is another critical step, and must include healthy lifestyle advice, and explain the links to risk factors such as smoking and obesity.

In treatment terms, policy makers must encourage therapeutic treatment based on clinical- and cost-effectiveness, acceptability, and affordability for Latin American countries. Healthcare professionals must manage high blood pressure in the context of other cardiovascular risk factors, and work to ensure treatment compliance and adherence.

Government officials and others bearing the cost must be sold the benefits of campaigns to prevent, identify and treat hypertension. The authors also recommend more research, specifically studies that include Latin American patients in large, long-term, clinical-outcome and epidemiological studies to improve clinical outcomes in specific regional context. This research needs support in the form of funding, including patient-oriented acceptance and compliance issues within the Latin American context.
References:
1. Adolfo Rubinstein, Luis Alcocer, Antonio Chagas. High blood pressure in Latin America: a call to action. Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease.

Related Articles



What Is Cholesterol? To understand high blood cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol), it is important to know more about cholesterol.  Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the

Whole Grain Intake Could Reduce High Blood Pressure According to researchers, increased consumption of whole grains could reduce the incidence of hypertension, or high blood pressure in men. High blood pressure is defined as having a

Smoking, High Blood Pressure and Overweight Top 3 Preventable Causes of Mortality According to the most comprehensive study yet to look at how diet, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors for chronic disease contribute to mortality in the U.S., smoking, high blood pressure

The Role of Hibiscus Tea in Reducing High Blood Pressure Hibiscus tea is made from the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower, which has been used in folk medicine as a diuretic and for the treatment of several other complaints, including high blood pressure,

Tai Chi Improves Balance in Stroke Survivors Stroke can impair balance, heightening the risk of a debilitating fall, but a researcher has found that stroke survivors can improve their balance by practicing the Chinese martial art of tai