WHO launches new blood pressure guidelines following landmark study

1.3 billion of the world ’ s population now suffer from hypertension , with those in Southeast Asia least likely to receive medication

The research , by the World Health Organization and Imperial College London , took data from 100 million people in 184 countries and found that the burden had shifted from wealthy nations to low- and middleincome countries , with wealthy countries now having some of the lowest rates .

Switzerland , Canada , Korea , and the United Kingdom feature among the 10 countries with the lowest prevalence of hypertension among women , as does China , where 24 percent of its females have the condition . Bangladesh , Laos , and Cambodia make an appearance in the corresponding men ’ s list , which shows a slightly higher prevalence in general .

“ Nearly half a century after we started treating hypertension , it is a public health failure that so many of the people with high blood pressure in the world are still not getting the treatment they need ,” Dr Majid Ezzati , senior author of the study and public health professor at Imperial College London , said on release of the findings .

The study coincided with new WHO guidelines for hypertension treatment , which provide recommendations to help countries improve the management of hypertension .

They include what level of blood pressure 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 guidelines provide the basis for how physicians and other health workers can contribute to improving hypertension detection and management .

Zoning policies may be good for the heart

Affordable housing residents found to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol

nclusionary zoning policies that increase the supply of affordable housing may be good for the heart . So says a first-of-a-kind study in the US that notes that such zoning programmes were associated with lower rates of heart disease .

It found that characteristics of inclusionary zoning programmes , which require that most new and some renovated residential developments include affordable homes for low-income residents , are associated with favourable municipal-level cardiovascular health . Further , such policies could also potentially address complex health challenges among economically vulnerable households .

“ Many cities around the country are facing a severe shortage of affordable housing ,” Antwan Jones , a sociology professor at George Washington University and lead author of the study , said on its release . “ Our study suggests that inclusionary zoning programmes can help not just boost the supply of safe , affordable housing , but may also reduce the risk of heart disease .”

Dr Jones and his colleagues relied on zoning and demographic data to determine if there were links at the municipal level between so-called inclusionary zoning policies and coronary heart disease .

“ Stable , affordable housing in healthy communities can reduce stress and increase access to fresh produce , parks , jobs , safe streets and other amenities that help people stay healthy ,” added Professor Gregory Squires , a co-author of the paper .

Mandatory inclusionary zoning programmes in which developers were required to prioritise rentals or set aside a larger share of affordable housing units had the biggest impact on markers of heart health .

While more research needs to be done to learn more about the links between inclusionary zoning and cardiovascular health , the study suggests that inclusionary zoning programmes can address some of the complex health challenges faced by struggling families in cities across the US , the authors said .

24 OCTOBER 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com