Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Recommendations for global hypertension monitoring and prevention

  • Published:
Current Hypertension Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In recent years, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been recognized as the most common cause of death in the world, accounting for 30% of all mortality, with a growing burden in developing countries. In 2000, it was estimated that 26% of the world’s adult population (972 million individuals) had prevalent hypertension, a key risk factor for CVD, and this number is expected to increase to 29% (1.56 billion) by 2025. CVDs place a heavy burden on society and overall economic activity; they are ranked third in disability-adjusted life years lost. We now have a comprehensive understanding of the basic lifestyle modifications that decrease risk of hypertension and its associated sequelae, however, and it is clear that only modest lifestyle changes would be required to produce small reductions in population averages that would have a large impact, given the multitude of adverse outcomes attributable to high blood pressure. Hypertension therefore is an important public health issue. Considerably more research and standardization of surveillance methods are required to realize the existing opportunities to reduce the global burden of CVDs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. World Health Organization: Country projects. Available at http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/priorities/secondary_prevention/country/en/. Accessed June 2009.

  2. World Health Organization: Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). Fact Sheet No. 317. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2009. Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  3. World Health Organization: The World Health Report 2002—Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2002. Available at http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/whr02_en.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Murray CJL, Lopez AD (eds): The Global Burden of Disease: A Comprehensive Assessment of Mortality and Disability From Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors in 1990 and Projected to 2020. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kearney PM, Whelton M, Reynolds K, et al.: Global burden of hypertension: analysis of worldwide data. Lancet 2005, 365:217–223.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cooper RS, Wolf-Maier K, Luke A, et al.: An international comparative study of blood pressure in populations of European vs. African descent. BMC Med 2005, 3:2. Available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/3/2. Accessed June 2009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Wolf-Maier K, Cooper RS, Banegas JR, et al.: Hypertension prevalence and blood pressure levels in 6 European countries, Canada, and the United States. JAMA 2003, 289:2363–2369.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. World Health Organization: The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2008. Available at http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/GBD_report_2004update_full.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sheridan S, Pignone M, Donahue K: Screening for high blood pressure: a review of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Am J Prev Med 2003, 25:151–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al.: The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: JNC 7 Express. Bethesda, MD: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 2003. Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/express.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ostchega Y, Yoon SS, Hughes J, Louis T: Hypertension Awareness, Treatment, and Control—Continued Disparities in Adults: United States, 2005-2006. NCHS Data Brief No 3. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2008. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db03.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  12. van der Sande MA, Bailey R, Faal H, et al.: Nationwide prevalence study of hypertension and related non-communicable diseases in The Gambia. Trop Med Int Health 1997, 2:1039–1048.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Vasan RS, Beiser A, Seshadri, et al.: Residual lifetime risk for developing hypertension in middle-aged men women and men: The Framingham Heart Study. JAMA 2002, 287:1003–1010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Burt VL, Whelton P, Roccella EJ, et al.: Prevalence of hypertension in the US adult population: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1991. Hypertension 1995, 25:305–313.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hodgson TA, Cai L: Medical care expenditures for hypertension, its complications, and its comorbidities. Med Care 2001, 39:599–615.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cherry DK, Woodwell DA: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2000 Summary. Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics; No. 328. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2002. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad328.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  17. American Heart Association: 2002 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2001. Available at http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/HS_State_02.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Cherry DK, Hing E, Woodwell DA, Rechtsteiner EA: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2006 Summary. National Health Statistics Reports; No. 3. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2008. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr003.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lloyd-Jones D, Adams R, Carnethon M, et al., for the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee: Heart disease and stroke statistics 2009 update: a report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation 2009, 119:e21–e181. Available at http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.191261. Accessed June 2009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Cutler JA, Sorlie PD, Wolz M, et al.: Trends in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates in United States adults between 1988–1994 and 1999–2004. Hypertension 2008, 52:818–827.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. ALLHAT Officers and Coordinators for the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group: Major outcomes in high-risk hypertensive patients randomized to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or calcium channel blocker vs diuretic: the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). JAMA 2004, 288:2981–2997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. The Trials of Hypertension Prevention Collaborative Research Group: Effects of weight loss and sodium reduction intervention on blood pressure and hypertension incidence in overweight people with high-normal blood pressure. The Trials of Hypertension Prevention, phase II. Arch Intern Med 1997, 157:657–667.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. He J, Whelton PK, Appel LJ, et al.: Long-term effects of weight loss and dietary sodium reduction on incidence of hypertension. Hypertension 2000, 35:544–549.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Xin X, He J, Frontini MG, et al.: Effects of alcohol reduction on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertension 2001, 38:1112–1117.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sacks FM, Svetkey LP, Vollmer WM, et al.: Effects on blood pressure of reduced dietary sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. DASH-Sodium Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med 2001, 344:3–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. National High Blood Pressure Education Program: The sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Arch Intern Med 1997, 157:2413–2446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, et al.: A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. N Engl J Med 1997, 336:1117–1124.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Mattes RD, Donnely D: Relative contributions of dietary sodium sources. J Am Coll Nutr 1991, 10:383–393.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kelley GA, Kelley KS: Progressive resistance exercise and resting blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertension 2000, 35:838–843.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Whelton SP, Chin A, Xin X, He J: Effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Ann Intern Med 2002, 136:493–503.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Forrester T, Cooper RS, Weatherall D: Emergence of Western diseases in the tropical world: the experience with chronic cardiovascular diseases. Br Med Bull 1998, 54:463–473.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Cook NR, Cohen J, Hebert PR, et al.: Implications of small reductions in diastolic blood pressure for primary prevention. Arch Intern Med 1995, 155:701–709.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Collins R, Peto R, MacMahon S, et al.: Blood pressure, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Part 2: short-term reductions in blood pressure: overview of randomized drug trials in their epidemiological context. Lancet 1990, 335:827–838.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. He J, Whelton PK: Elevated systolic blood pressure as a risk for cardiovascular and renal disease. J Hypertens 1999, 335(Suppl 17):S7–S13.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Cooper R, Rotini C: Hypertension in blacks. Am J Hypertens 1997, 7:804–812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Wright JT Jr, Dunn JK, Cutler JA, et al.: Outcomes in hypertensive black and nonblack patients treated with chlorthalidone, amlodipine, and lisinopril. JAMA 2005, 293:1595–1607.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Kim MT, Kim KB, Juon HS, Hill MN: Prevalence and factors associated with high blood pressure in Korean Americans. Ethn Dis 2000, 10:364–374.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Strategy for addressing health disparities: FY 2002–2006. Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/docs/plandisp.htm. Accessed June 2009.

  39. Krousel-Wood MA, Muntner P, He J, et al.: Primary prevention of essential hypertension. Med Clin N Am 2004, 88:223–238.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Mensah GA: The global burden of hypertension: good news and bad news. Cardiol Clin 2002, 20:181–185.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Whelton PK, He J, Muntner P: Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in North America, North Africa and Asia. J Hum Hypertens 2004, 18:545–551.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Cooper RS, Osotimehin B, Kaufman JS, et al.: Disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa: what should we conclude in the absence of data? Lancet 1998, 351:208–210.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Markandu ND, Whitcher F, Arnold A, et al.: The mercury sphygmomanometer should be abandoned before it is proscribed. J Hum Hypertens 2000, 14:31–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Hyman DJ, Pavlik VN: Self-reported hypertension treatment practices among primary care physicians: blood pressure thresholds, drug choices, and the role of guidelines and evidence-based medicine. Arch Intern Med 2000, 160:2281–2286.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Ataman SL, Cooper R, Rotimi C, et al.: Standardization of blood pressure measurement in an international comparative study. J Clin Epidemiol 1996, 49:869–877.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. World Health Organization: Integrated Management of Cardiovascular Risk: Report of a WHO Meeting, Geneva, 9–12 July 2002. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2002. Available at http://whqlibdoc.who. int/publications/9241562242.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  47. O’Brien E, Petrie J, Littler WA, et al.: The British Hypertension Society protocol for the evaluation of blood pressure measuring devices. J Hypertens 1993, 11(Suppl 2):S43–S63.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation: American National Standard for Electronic or Automated Sphygmomanometers. ANSI/AAMI SP 10-1992. Arlington, VA: AAMI, 1993:40.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Parati G, Mendis S, Abegunde D, et al.: Recommendations for blood pressure measuring devices for office/clinic use in low resource settings. Blood Press Monit 2005, 10:3–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. World Health Organization: WHO CVD-Risk Management Package for Low- and Medium-Resource Settings. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2002. Available at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2002/9241545852.pdf. Accessed June 2009.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventative Medicine and Epidemiology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Drew E. Lee

Authors
  1. Drew E. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard S. Cooper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Drew E. Lee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, D.E., Cooper, R.S. Recommendations for global hypertension monitoring and prevention. Current Science Inc 11, 444–449 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-009-0075-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-009-0075-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation