Hypertension affects more than 30% of the adult population worldwide, more than one billion people around the world. It is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary heart disease and stroke, but also for chronic kidney disease, heart failure, arrhythmia and dementia.
The burden of hypertension is felt disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries, where two thirds of cases are found, largely due to increased risk factors in those populations in recent decades. What’s more, around half of people living with hypertension are unaware of their condition, putting them at risk of avoidable medical complications and death.
Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement is essential for the proper diagnosis and management of hypertension. BP measurement is perhaps the most commonly performed procedure in clinical medicine and, although it seems simple at first glance, current suboptimal measurement leads to negatively impacting clinical management decisions in 20 – 45% of cases. Assessing healthcare workers performance of BP measurement and how to improve it are key elements of a successful hypertension control program.
To mark World Hypertension Day, deferred to October 17 due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization and Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, are hosting the event "World Hypertension DAy. HEARTS in the Americas: presenting a new virtual course to improve blood pressure measurement and celebrating achievements in protecting people´s cardiovascular health" to be held on Friday, 16 October 2020, from 9:00 am to 12:00pm (EDT).
The event will be held in two parts: the first, from 9.00 to 10.30 am (EDT), will feature presentations on interventions in hypertension control and country and partner experiences in implementing hypertension programs. From 10:30 am to 12:00 pm (EDT), the event will center on presenting a new virtual course and new tools that support blood pressure measurement and management, available on PAHO's Virtual Campus for Public Health.
SOCIAL MEDIA GIFS
