The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised fresh concerns over the growing global burden of hypertension, revealing that an estimated 1.4 billion people were living with the condition in 2024, while only a fraction have it under control.
In its second Global Hypertension Report, unveiled during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Resolve to Save Lives, the WHO highlighted a critical gap in treatment and prevention efforts worldwide. According to the report, just over one in five individuals with hypertension have successfully managed the condition through medication or lifestyle changes.
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, remains a leading driver of heart attacks, strokes, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. Despite being both preventable and treatable, the condition continues to claim millions of lives annually. Economic projections further underline the urgency, with cardiovascular diseases expected to cost low- and middle-income countries approximately $3.7 trillion between 2011 and 2025—around 2% of their combined gross domestic product.
Speaking on the findings, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the scale of the crisis, noting that more than 1,000 people die every hour from stroke and heart attacks linked to high blood pressure most of which are preventable. He emphasized that stronger political commitment, sustained investment, and integration of hypertension care into national health systems are essential to reversing current trends.
Echoing similar concerns, Kelly Henning highlighted that uncontrolled hypertension accounts for over 10 million deaths each year. While some countries have made measurable progress by embedding hypertension care into primary health systems, many low- and middle-income nations continue to lag due to limited resources and weak healthcare infrastructure.
Persistent Systemic Barriers
Data from 195 countries and territories reveal that 99 nations have hypertension control rates below 20%, underscoring widespread gaps in care. The burden is disproportionately concentrated in lower-income regions, where health systems often struggle with inadequate funding and infrastructure.
The report identifies several key challenges, including weak public health policies targeting risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. Additional barriers include limited access to reliable blood pressure monitoring devices, shortages of trained healthcare workers, inconsistent treatment protocols, and fragile medicine supply chains. High out-of-pocket costs and insufficient health data systems further complicate long-term disease management.
Limited Access to Life-Saving Medicines
Access to affordable and effective medication remains one of the most pressing issues. The report shows that only 28% of low-income countries have consistent availability of all WHO-recommended hypertension drugs in pharmacies and primary healthcare centres. In contrast, availability reaches 93% in high-income countries, highlighting stark global inequalities.
Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, underscored the urgency of improving access, noting that while safe and low-cost treatments exist, millions are unable to obtain them. He added that closing this gap could save countless lives while significantly reducing healthcare costs worldwide.
The WHO is calling for coordinated global action to strengthen health systems, improve access to essential medicines, and implement policies that promote healthier lifestyles. Without decisive intervention, the organization warns, hypertension will continue to fuel preventable deaths and place an ever-growing strain on national economies.
