The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm that uncontrolled high blood pressure poses a serious threat to more than 1.4 billion people worldwide, potentially leading to premature deaths.
In its second Global Hypertension Report, unveiled on Tuesday during an event co-hosted by WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Resolve to Save Lives at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, the organisation revealed that although 1.4 billion people were living with hypertension in 2024, only about one in five had the condition under control through medication or lifestyle changes.
The report highlights stark inequalities: while 93% of high-income countries report general availability of all WHO-recommended hypertension medicines, only 28% of low-income countries do so. This gap leaves millions vulnerable to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and dementia.
Between 2011 and 2025, cardiovascular diseases—including hypertension—are projected to cost low- and middle-income countries around US$3.7 trillion, equivalent to 2% of their combined GDP.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, stressed that more than 1,000 lives are lost every hour to heart attacks and strokes caused by high blood pressure—most of them preventable. He urged governments to show political will, invest in healthcare reforms, and integrate hypertension control into universal health coverage (UHC).
Dr. Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Dr. Tom Frieden of Resolve to Save Lives also emphasised the need for stronger policies, affordable medicines, and better access to care, noting that safe and effective drugs already exist but remain out of reach for many.
Despite the challenges, progress in some countries shows what is possible. Bangladesh, the Philippines, and South Korea have made significant strides by embedding hypertension treatment in UHC systems, investing in primary care, and strengthening community-level health services. For example, South Korea achieved a 59% control rate in 2022, while Bangladesh raised control in some regions from 15% to 56% between 2019 and 2025.
The report concludes that adopting WHO’s recommended measures could save millions of lives and reduce the heavy economic and social costs of uncontrolled hypertension.
