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SPECIALITY
HOW TO DEAL WITH MASS
KILLER HYPERTENSION -
GLOBAL EXPERT
High blood pressure is the single pressure (BP) awareness BP (18,4% of those untreated)
biggest contributor to the global campaign during May last year. and over 110 000 with treated but
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burden of disease with hypertension uncontrolled BP (just 40,4% of
leading to 10, 7 million deaths Speaking at the 34th World those treated).
every year . Most worrying is a Congress of Internal Medicine
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recent global study showing that on that was held in Cape Town in He described the MMM campaigns
average, more than half of those October, Professor Neil R Poulter, as a major success and a “heart-
affected don’t know they have it. 2 Immediate Past President of warming, fantastic volunteer effort.”
the ISH, said an earlier study
Because cardiovascular disease showed that just 46,5% of 57 840 Take home lessons
affects a third of adults in the world, hypertensive people canvassed
it is the largest epidemic ever knew they had hypertension, “So, we need to put screening in
known to mankind. 3 followed by a dramatic drop off place and provide suitable drugs –
between those treated (40,6%) and most people are not getting enough
With mortalities increasing those controlled (13,2%). In the drug combinations. You need two or
year on year, awareness - and subsequent global ISH screening more drugs to manage hypertension
thus treatment and control and awareness initiative, dubbed properly,” said Prof Poulter.
rates - have been shown to ‘’May Measurement Month,” (MMM,
worsen as the economic status 2017), volunteers screened over 1,2 Drug guidelines are confusing,
of population’s drop . Prof million people in 80 countries. They differing in the European
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Poulter says that between the uncovered over 150 000 people Union, America and Britain with
highest income countries and with untreated raised BP (17,3% different drug combinations
the lowest there was an 8.2% of those untreated) and over 100 recommended for different race
drop in awareness, a 15% 000 with treated but uncontrolled groups. Prof Poulter favours
drop in treatment and a 6,3% BP (46,3% of those treated). The the British combination-drug
drop in control. This prompted ISH went one better this year - guidelines.
the International Society of screening over 1,5 million people
Hypertension (ISH) to mount in 89 countries and detecting over 10
an unprecedented global blood 220 000 with untreated raised
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