The American Heart Association (AHA) Rapid Access Journal Report recently stated that, for the very first time in history, statistics show that high blood pressure is more frequently found in nations that have lower and mid-level incomes than in high-income nations.
In 2010, approximately one-third of the world’s adults had hypertension. Now, three-quarters of the adults with hypertension are found in low and middle-income nations. These people may not have access to the proper care for their health concerns.
“Health care systems in many low and middle-income countries are overburdened and do not have the resources to effectively treat and control hypertension,” Dr. Jiang He, senior study author and researcher at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, said. “In addition, because hypertension is symptomless and many people in low and middle-income countries do not have access to screenings or regular preventative medical care, it is often under-diagnosed.”
Between 2000 and 2010, the prevalence of high blood pressure fell in countries with high incomes but rose in countries with low or mid-level incomes.
“Aging populations and urbanization -- which is often accompanied by unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as high sodium, fat and calorie diets, and lack of physical activity -- may play an important role in the epidemic of hypertension in low and middle-income countries,” He said.
