WHO Report Reveals Alarming Lack of Adequate Hypertension Treatment

Nearly half of adults with hypertension, or high blood pressure, are unaware they have the condition, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO). Hypertension is the leading risk factor for early death, causing an estimated 10 million deaths annually. The number of people with high blood pressure has doubled to 1.3 billion in 2019, and health officials expect this number to rise further. If half of those with hypertension had the condition under control, 76 million deaths could be prevented by 2050. Treatment for hypertension is effective and low-cost, but it remains neglected, resulting in preventable deaths and cardiovascular events.