Global interventions in hypertension

It has been well established that among numerous traditional, as well as emerging, risk factors and biomarkers, hypertension still remains the most potent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although major diagnostic and pharmacological advances have been implemented in clinical practice, they have not been associated with a reduction in hypertension-related complications and adverse events. This highlights the major effort needed to achieve optimal prevention, detection, and management of hypertension worldwide. Several societies and regulatory authorities have suggested actions and means to overcome the current problems and obstacles. The main goals of these endeavors are expected to be achieved through the use of generalized worldwide approaches and better education of both physicians and patients. This strategy is further underlined by the disappointing results so far of actions that were either inappropriately directed at specific populations or were hampered by erroneous or complicated methods of addressing hypertension-related consequences. In addition, the essential clustering of other risk factors with hypertension, in conjunction with the crucial effect of subclinical target-organ damage on the prognosis, creates the need for a holistic approach to diagnosis and cardiovascular prevention. This review summarizes current global intervention strategies and also proposes additional ways to further improve the management of hypertension worldwide. L Heart Metab. 2019;79:25-29