Hypertension control in Argentina, in the middle of a long road

In Argentina, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and represent 1/3 of total mortality. In 2017, hypertension prevalence for inhabitants ≥18 years old was 36.3%, and its level of knowledge and control (<140/90 mm Hg) were 61% and 24%, respectively. Furthermore, 56% of people treated with antihypertensive drugs do not reach therapeutic goal. In addition to this, prevalence of other risk factors, such as sedentary lifestyle, overweight-obesity, high blood glucose/diabetes, and high cholesterol, has worsened in the last 5 years. The governmental initiative "Less Salt More Life" intends to reduce salt consumption in the entire population and promoted a National Law, which establishes the progressive salt reduction in processed foods. This initiative is probably related to the reduction of salt use after cooking or sitting at the table, observed in the Risk Factors National Survey. Furthermore, previously published studies showed, in relatively small samples from Argentina, that populational blood pressure can be decreased and hypertension control can be improved using community-based or multicomponent intervention programs. However, no specific designed national effort for hypertension control is now officially applied. In consequence, we believe that, in order to increase hypertension control, the effort should not focus on developing new strategies, but on quickly implementing and maintaining those local multicomponent interventions that have already proven to be effective.