The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its second Global Hypertension Report, revealing that approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide were living with high blood pressure in 2024, yet only about one in five have their condition under control through medication or lifestyle interventions.
The report, presented at an event co-hosted by WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Resolve to Save Lives during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, highlights the stark disparity in access to treatment, particularly in low-income countries. Only 28% of these nations report that all WHO-recommended hypertension medicines are generally available in pharmacies or primary care facilities.
Hypertension is a leading contributor to heart attacks, strokes, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. Despite being preventable and treatable, millions continue to die prematurely due to inadequate prevention and care. Economic projections indicate that cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, could cost low- and middle-income countries around US$3.7 trillion between 2011 and 2025 roughly 2% of their combined GDP.
Every hour, over 1,000 lives are lost to strokes and heart attacks caused by high blood pressure, and most of these deaths are preventable, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Countries have the tools to change this narrative. With political will, continued investment, and reforms to integrate hypertension control into health services, millions of lives can be saved, supporting universal health coverage for all.
Kelly Henning noted that uncontrolled high blood pressure accounts for more than 10 million deaths each year. “Countries that embed hypertension care into primary health services are making progress, but too many low- and middle-income countries remain left behind. Policies that increase awareness and expand access to treatment are critical to reducing preventable deaths from cardiovascular disease, she said.
Persistent Global Barriers
Analysis covering 195 countries and territories found that 99 nations report national hypertension control rates below 20%, with the majority of affected individuals residing in low- and middle-income countries facing resource limitations.
The report identifies significant gaps in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care. Contributing factors include weak health promotion policies on key risk factors (alcohol, tobacco, physical inactivity, salt, and trans fats), limited access to validated blood pressure devices, lack of standardized treatment protocols, undertrained primary care teams, unreliable supply chains, high medication costs, insufficient financial protection for patients, and inadequate information systems to monitor progress.
Access to Medicines as a Key Priority
Blood pressure medications are among the most cost-effective public health interventions. Yet only 28% of low-income countries report general availability of all WHO-recommended medicines, compared to 93% of high-income nations. The report outlines strategies to improve access, including strengthened regulatory systems, pricing and reimbursement reforms, efficient procurement and supply chains, and better prescribing and dispensing practices.
Safe, effective, low-cost medicines to control blood pressure exist, but far too many people cannot access them, said Tom Frieden. Closing this gap will save lives and billions of dollars annually.
The WHO report calls for urgent global action to expand hypertension diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care, emphasizing that controlling high blood pressure is essential to prevent millions of premature deaths and reduce the economic burden of cardiovascular disease worldwide.
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