Washington DC May 16, 2025 (PAHO) – While the Americas countries continue to progress towards prevention and hypertension control, on the eve of World Hypertension DayThe Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) calls for more things to do in primary health care to combat this main risk factor in cardiovascular disease (MCV).
Hypertension is a common condition that affects more than 35% of people aged 30 to 79 in the Americas. This is the main risk factor for heart attacks and brain vascular accidents, which together lead to more than 2.2 million deaths each year in the region. It is also a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease, dementia and diabetes complications.
“This high level of health and death caused by hypertension is unacceptable because it can be avoided,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of Paho. “The lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, avoiding harmful consumption of alcohol, limiting the contribution of ultra -processed food products and exercising, are all very beneficial for health.”
Political decision -makers also play a crucial role in prevention, in particular by the implementation of policies to promote physical activity and a healthy diet, such as the reduction of salt in the food and the pack labeling to allow consumers to make healthier choices.
However, in addition to focusing on prevention, the director of PAHO stressed that countries must also ensure that people have better access to diagnosis and treatment, which will imply the equitable expansion of services in primary health care.
In the Americas region, up to four out of ten adults suffer from hypertension, but a third do not know that they have the condition. Among those who are aware, only 80% receive treatment and only 60% of those who receive treatment have controlled hypertension.
To remedy this, Paho’s Hearts Initiative, which is a complete program which focuses on improving prevention and management of cardiovascular disease, helps countries to improve hypertension control and MCV risk management in primary care.
Currently, 33 countries in the Americas have committed to implementing hearts, with 7,158 primary health care establishments reaching 37 million adults – 5.7 million of which receive treatment. “Hearts works and is our key strategy to reduce avoidable deaths linked to cardiovascular disease and strengthen primary health care,” added the director of PAHO.
“We have made great progress, hearts being available in more than 80% of primary health care establishments in 10 countries. However, we must make sure that everyone receives high quality care, no matter where they live, “he said.
The challenges of complete implementation include limited access to automatic validated blood pressure automatic devices in clinical medium and the low availability of high quality drugs to reduce blood pressure. The regional regional funds of PAHO, a group supply mechanism which allows the countries of the Americas to access quality vaccines, essential drugs and public health supplies at affordable and transparent prices, is crucial to solve these problems.
Funds offer clinically validated blood pressure devices, antihypertensive and hypocholesterotic drugs ensured by quality at competitive prices and work with countries to ensure demand planning to facilitate continuous access to healthcare health and technologies.
The Better Care for Non-Communcy Diseases (NCDS) initiative of PAHO, launched in 2023, aims to facilitate access to quality MNT services in primary health care systems, to expand prevention, diagnostic and treatment services for other chronic conditions, based on existing efforts such as hearts.
“This World Hypertension Day makes hypertension control of hypertension an absolute priority. Measure your blood pressure with precision, control it and live longer, ”concluded the director of PAHO.
World Hypertension Day
World Hypertension Day is observed every May 17 in order to raise awareness and promote prevention, detection and hypertension control.