WORLD HEALTH DAY

2013

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Global and Regional Overview

GLOBAL BURDEN

High blood pressure is one of the most important

causes of premature death worldwide killing
nearly 9.4 million people every year globally,
and the problem is growing.

Over 1 billion people are living with high blood

pressure. In 2008, globally, the overall
prevalence of high blood pressure (including
those on medication for high blood pressure) in
adults aged 25 and above was around 40%.

Among all WHO regions, the prevalence of

raised blood pressure was highest in the African
Region (46%) and lowest in the Region of the
Americas (35%). In the South-East Asia Region,
36% of adults have hypertension.

In all WHO regions, males had a slightly higher

prevalence of raised blood pressure than
females, but this difference was only statistically
significant in the Region of the Americas and the
European Region.

The prevalence of raised blood pressure in low,

lower-middle and upper-middle income countries
is higher (40%) than in high-income countries
(35%).

In high-income countries, strong public health

policies, multisectoral preventive action and
widely available diagnosis and treatment have
led to a reduction in the prevalence of high
blood pressure. In contrast, in many developing
countries the disease burden caused by raised
blood pressure has increased over the past
decade.

Age-standardized prevalence of raised blood pressure in adults

aged 25+ years by WHO Region, 2008
50

46.7
44.6

Males

44.5
39.0

40

41.0
38.6

40.3
37.1

37.3
34.9

34.7

40.6
35.8

31.5
Per cent

30

20

10

African
Region

European South-East
Eastern
Region
Asia Region
Mediterranean Region
of the
Region
Americas

Western
Pacific
Region

Global

Source: Global status report on noncommunicable diseases, 2010. Geneva, World Health Organization 2011.

BLOOD PRESSURE TAKE CONTROL

Females

High Blood Pressure Global and Regional Overview

BURDEN IN THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGION

In the 10 countries from which data were

available, the prevalence of high blood pressure
ranged from 19% in Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea to 42% in Myanmar.

Prevalence of hypertension is increasing in many

countries in the Region. In India, raised blood
pressure increased from 5% in the 1960s to
nearly 12% in 1990s, to more than 30% in
2008. In Indonesia, the percentage of adult
population with raised blood pressure increased
from 8% in 1995 to 32% in 2008. In Myanmar,
the Ministry of Health reported an increase in
high blood pressure prevalence, from 18% to
31% in males, and from 16% to 29% in females
during 20042009.

Ageing population, rapid urbanization and

transition from agrarian life to a wage-earning,
modern city life are reported as major
contributors to increased blood pressure in urban
areas.

Age-standardized prevalence of raised blood pressure in adults

aged 25+ years, South-East Asia Region, 2008
50

Males
40.4

40

36.0

36.0

34.2

Females

41.9

39.8

39.2

37.4

37.0 20.5

32.9

31.6

29.7

30

20

44.3

42.7

26.2
20.5
20.1

20.4
17.1

Thailand

Sri Lanka

Nepal

Myanmar

Maldives

Indonesia

India

10

DPR Korea

Males have a slightly higher prevalence of high

blood pressure than females in almost all
countries of the Region.

Bhutan

One in three adults in the Region has high blood

pressure.

Bangladesh

High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for

death claiming 1.5 million lives each year in the
Region.

Per cent

Source: WHO. Noncommunicable diseases in the South-East Asia Region: Situation and response 2011. New Delhi, World Health
Organization 2011.

WORLD HEALTH DAY | 2013