Introduction
Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest single contributing risk factor to altered global health ( WHO 2023), being one of the world’s leading risk factors for death and disability. The number of people living with hypertension doubled between 1990 and 2019, from 650 million to 1.3 billion, with the global age-standardised prevalence of hypertension in adults being 32% in women and 34% in men in 2019. This common, deadly condition is an important public health problem that leads to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage and many other health problems. In particular, high systolic blood pressure was the single most important risk factor for early death worldwide, leading to an estimated 10.8 million avoidable deaths every year, and a burden of 235 million years of life lost or lived with a disability annually. High BP has enormous economic costs for patients and their families, health systems and national economies.
World Hypertension Day is aimed at raising attention on the importance of a better hypertension control. Its purpose is to communicate to the public the importance of hypertension and its serious medical complications, and to provide information on its prevention, detection, and management. It is also aimed at reducing physicians’ inertia in this context, to improve hypertension control rates.
The Council on Hypertension of the ESC is actively involved in 2024 WHD activities, by providing information and dedicated resources (available on this ESC webpage) to ESC members, and in general to all doctors, with the aim of helping them improve their management of hypertensive patients.
Professor Gianfranco Parati, Chair of the Council on Hypertension 2022-2024
Working with the World Hypertension League
World Hypertension League website
The theme this year is “Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer”, promoting increased awareness of high blood pressure and accuracy in blood pressure measurement, toward the control of hypertension related NCDs, especially in low to middle income areas. To help achieve this, WHL members and partners are encouraged to participate in WHD via blood pressure screenings, calls to actions, community events, media releases, and awareness campaigns worldwide. These screenings and education on lifestyle modification and dietary salt reduction help reduce the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease in communities worldwide.
Some resources from World Hypertension League
Resources - Accuracy in BP Measurement
Certification courses
Certification Course to Improve BP Measurement
Certification Course for Home BP Monitoring
Other materials
Interviews on Hot Topics
- Importance of hypertension in cardiovascular diseases field
- Prof. Gianfranco Parati
- Prof. Thomas Felix Luescher
- Importance of adherence
- Assoc. Prof. Miguel Camafort
- Prof. Isabella Sudano
- BP measurement
- Prof. Thomas Kahan
- Prof. Gianfranco Parati
- Hypertension in women
- Prof. Sofie Brouwers
- Prof. Eva Gerdts
Scientific Content
- Sex differences in arterial hypertension
- Renal denervation in the management of hypertension in adults. A clinical consensus statement of the ESC Council on Hypertension and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) RDN consensus statement 2023
- Sex and gender differences in the treatment of arterial hypertension
- Sex-Specific Effects of Blood Pressure Lowering Pharmacotherapy for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: An Individual Participant-Level Data Meta-Analysis
- Diagnosis and management of resistant hypertension
- Hypertension and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- Hypertension management in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities
- Automated 'oscillometric' blood pressure measuring devices: how they work and what they measure
Do You Know Stride BP ?
STRIDE BP is an international scientific non-profit organisation founded by hypertension experts with the mission of improving the accuracy of blood pressure measurement and the diagnosis and management of hypertension globally.
STRIDE BP operates in affiliation with the International Society of Hypertension, the European Society of Hypertension, and the World Hypertension League and is recommended by these organisations for providing guidance on the blood pressure measuring devices that are properly validated and should be used in clinical practice.
It provides lists of validated blood pressure measuring devices for office, home, and ambulatory use in adults, children, and pregnant women according to the latest scientific evidence, as well as interactive educational modules and practice tools for the optimal use of blood pressure measurement methods and devices.
Membership
By joining the ESC Council on Hypertension, you automatically belong to the European Society of Cardiology community.
Looking to get more out of your Membership? Become an ESC Professional Member for more learning opportunities and savings on ESC Congress.
The Fellowship of the European Society of Cardiology is an outstanding honour recognising distinguished scientific, professional, educational or teaching achievements. More information about ESC Fellowship and related privileges.
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.