Hypertension

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the primary risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the world’s largest killers. An estimated 17 million people died of CVDs in 2008, representing 30% of all global deaths. The overall global prevalence of raised blood pressure in adults aged 25 and over was around 40% in 2008. The proportion of the world’s population with high blood pressure, or uncontrolled hypertension, fell modestly between 1980 and 2008. However, because of population growth and aging, the number of people with uncontrolled hypertension rose from 600 million in 1980 to nearly 1 billion in 2008 (WHO, 2011).

The prevalence of hypertension in the Philippines has been increasing based on the series of nationwide surveys from 1992 to 2003. Expectedly, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have become the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the country during the last decade (Sison et al., 2007).

According to the latest report of the Philippine Heart Association - Council on Hypertension (COH), the prevalence of hypertension in the adult population in the Philippines is 21% and occurs equally among men and women. In addition, hypertension prevalence was highest in Metro Manila at 33%. Furthermore, hypertension was most frequent in age groups 60-69 years (50.5%) and 70 years and older (54%) since studies have constantly accounted the risk of hypertension increasing with age. It is, therefore, alarming that the most recent prevalence was 29.4% among Filipino individuals in the younger age groups 18-29 years as compared to the 11.4% prevalence of those in age groups 30-39 years (Sison et al., 2007).

Prevention of hypertension can be done by taking action. However, because a variety of factors contribute to the development of hypertension, prevention involves paying attention to the factors that can be changed and understanding those that...