High blood pressure remains a significant concern despite advancements in healthcare. New research has revealed that it remains Australia’s top killer, emphasising the critical need for nation-wide interventions to tackle the silent threat. Despite about 34 percent of adults having high blood pressure, it is often overlooked in national health plans, particularly in Australia. The country lags in managing hypertension, falling far behind other wealthy nations in controlling blood pressure, despite having the best tools to combat heart disease and stroke.
Cardiovascular Professor Alta Schutte stated that Australia has the weapons to combat heart disease and stroke but should utilize effective population-level blood pressure control as an urgent national health priority. Only 32 percent of Australians with hypertension have brought their blood pressure down to a healthy level, contrasting with Canada’s 68 percent achievement. Additionally, half of Australians with high blood pressure are unaware they have it.
High blood pressure is not only connected to severe heart conditions but also to cognitive decline, worse outcomes in COVID-19, kidney issues, and pregnancy complications. It can, however, be managed effectively with lifestyle adjustments and medication. Although high blood pressure was a factor in about one in four deaths in Australia in 1990 and dropped to about one in seven by 2010, it remained the same in 2019.
Prof. Schutte pointed out that progress has stalled over the past decade, calling for more attention and funding. She emphasized that significant progress could be made now, given the availability of improved treatment options. Age and gender impact the risk of death from high blood pressure, raising concerns about potential gaps in treating certain age groups. High blood pressure contributed to more stroke-related deaths in men aged 25-49 years compared to other age groups, surpassing 60 percent and rising significantly from 1990 to 2019.
Australia’s top health systems and improvements in health metrics were acknowledged by the researchers, who studied Australian data from 1990 to 2019. The National Hypertension Taskforce aims to raise Australia’s blood pressure control rates from 32 percent to 70 percent by 2030 and will unveil its groundbreaking roadmap to achieve this goal at Parliament House, Canberra, on March 18, 2024.
Progress In Australian Cardiovascular Healthcare was also noted by Cardiologist Professor Stephen Nicholls, who confirmed significant advancements. He affirmed that these two vital discoveries, found through careful clinical trials and research, have saved many lives. Dr. Chengxue Helena Qin mentioned several overlooked factors linked to high blood pressure, including patients struggling to control high blood pressure due to stiff blood vessels, while healthy ones should stretch easily.