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Global burden of blood-pressure-related disease, 2001

Carlene M M Lawes1, Stephen Vander Hoorn, Anthony Rodgers

  • 1Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Lancet (London, England)
|May 6, 2008
PubMed

Insights

High blood pressure caused 7.6 million deaths and 92 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally. The burden disproportionately affects low-income countries and individuals with prehypertension, not just those with diagnosed hypertension.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Disease Research

Background:

  • Limited data exists on the global distribution and impact of high blood pressure.
  • High blood pressure is a significant, yet under-quantified, contributor to global disease burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the worldwide burden of disease attributable to high blood pressure.
  • To analyze the distribution of this burden by age, sex, and economic status.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 2001 to estimate the global burden of disease linked to high blood pressure (systolic >= 115 mm Hg).
  • Calculated population impact fractions using mean systolic blood pressure, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and regression dilution bias-corrected relative risks.
  • Stratified analyses by age (>=30 years), sex, and World Bank region.

Main Results:

  • High blood pressure was linked to 7.6 million premature deaths (13.5% of global total) and 92 million DALYs (6.0% of global total).
  • Attributable conditions included 54% of global strokes and 47% of ischemic heart disease.
  • The majority of the burden (80%) was in low- and middle-income economies, with over half affecting individuals aged 45-69.

Conclusions:

  • The global disease burden from high blood pressure predominantly impacts low- and middle-income countries and middle-aged populations.
  • A significant portion of the burden is associated with prehypertension, indicating that strategies targeting only hypertensive individuals are insufficient.
  • Public health interventions should broaden their scope beyond diagnosed hypertension to effectively reduce the overall disease burden.
Abstract

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