Silent Crisis: Epidemic Hypertension in Rural West Africa

Systemic Arterial Hypertension (hereafter referred to as ‘hypertension’) is defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mmHg. It is a major preventable cause of premature mortality through its association with Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and renal disease. Hypertension-related CVD primarily includes stroke and Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD). Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH) is more common in the elderly because the Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) plateaus in the 5th and 6th decades and, subsequently, gradually declines, unlike the Systolic BloodPressure (SBP), which continues to increase with age. 

Annually, approximately 8 million deaths worldwide are attributable to elevated SBP, accounting for about 14% of all deaths . This includes 54% and 47% of hypertension-attributable deaths due to stroke and IHD, respectively. The risk of death from such cardiovascular events (CE) increases in a ‘log-linear’ fashion for BP ≥115/75 mmHg, even in individuals with no known underlying vascular disease. For instance, the probability of dying from CE such as IHD and stroke is doubled for every 20 mmHg increase in SBP or 10 mmHg rise in DBP in middle-aged and elderly persons. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>