World Hypertension Day 2024

“Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer” is this year’s theme for World Hypertension Day 2024. Celebrated on the 17^th of May every year, World Hypertension Day is a global event to create awareness of hypertension. Other than awareness with the theme in place and targeting low-middle income countries, this promotes the accuracy of blood pressure measurement that would lead to controlled hypertension-related non-communicable diseases. 

Recognized as a major cause of premature death worldwide, an estimated 46% of adults are unaware that they suffer from hypertension. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.28 billion adults aged between 30-79 years old are diagnosed with hypertension and most are living in low and middle-income countries. Running closely, more than 60% of Malaysian adults remain undiagnosed for hypertension. With a prevalence of 30%, Malaysia has been providing exceptional treatment to curb the complications related to hypertension despite working hard to diagnose and screen adults for hypertension. 

Interventions for hypertension encompass a multifaceted approach aimed at prevention, early detection, and effective management. Malaysia’s public health initiatives focus on raising awareness about the risks associated with hypertension through education campaigns and promoting healthy lifestyles including regular exercise and a balanced diet with low sodium content. Healthcare professionals are actively engaged in screening programs to identify individuals at risk and provide timely interventions. Treatment strategies often involve a combination of medication and lifestyle modifications tailored to individual needs. Additionally, efforts are made to enhance access to healthcare services, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to receive proper diagnosis and management of hypertension to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases in the Malaysian population. 

Blood pressure monitoring initiatives target various groups, including the elderly, urban dwellers, low socioeconomic communities, high-risk ethnic groups, and rural and remote areas. By focusing on these diverse groups, tailored interventions aim to address specific risk factors and barriers to healthcare access, ensuring that all Malaysians have the opportunity for early detection and effective management of hypertension. These efforts reflect a commitment to inclusivity and equity in healthcare, aiming to reduce the burden of hypertension across different segments of the population. 

Passing the correct information on blood pressure monitoring and control is important to see success in the management of hypertension. This would need proactive steps from both the community and healthcare personnel to empower the need for correct and accurate monitoring and measurements of blood pressure to prevent complications caused by hypertension. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maliza Mawardi

Department of Family Medicine

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date of Input: 17/05/2024 | Updated: 05/08/2024 | nadia_rahman