2021 WHO Guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension: Let's implement it now!

As part of the activities to mark World Heart Day, the Pan American Health Organization invites you to participate in a new HEARTS in the Americas webinar, titled  "2021 WHO Guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension: Let's implement it now!", that will take place on Friday, 1 October 2021.

More people die each year from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than from any other cause. Hypertension is the leading risk factor for CVD and a severe medical condition that significantly increases the risk of heart, brain, kidney, and other diseases. Prevalence of hypertension is high in the Americas; although it is relatively easy to diagnose and its treatment is very cost-effective, there are significant care gaps. Indeed, in 2019, despite some progress in the last decade, in Latin America and the Caribbean, 28% of women and 43% of men were unaware of their condition. Moreover, million were not receiving their needed treatment. Among those treated, 29% of women and 24% of men were not controlled. Consequently, only 35% of women and 23% of men had hypertension controlled among that population.

The WHO Guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults, recently released, provides new recommendations to help countries improve the management of hypertension. The recommendations cover the blood pressure level to start medication, what type of medicine or combination of medicines to use, the target blood pressure level, and how often to have follow-up checks on blood pressure. In addition, the guideline provides the basis for how physicians and other health workers can contribute to improving hypertension detection and management. This new guideline is relevant to update and catalyze the implementation of HEARTS in the Americas.

By 2025, the HEARTS will be the model for cardiovascular disease risk management, including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia in primary health care in the Americas. HEARTS in the Americas will be the front-line program to strengthen, integrate, and improve the quality of care for NCD in primary health care in the post-COVID 19 recovery. The Initiative is currently being implemented in 16 countries, with 739 primary health care centers participating within an aggregate catchment area of over 8 million people.