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Achieving blood pressure goals globally: five core actions for health-care professionals. A worldwide call to action

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 22, pages 63–70 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The prevalence of hypertension continues to rise across the world, and most patients who receive medical intervention are not adequately treated to goal. A Working Group including representatives of nine international health-care organizations was convened to review the barriers to more effective blood pressure control and propose actions to address them. The group concluded that tackling the global challenge of hypertension will require partnerships among multiple constituencies, including patients, health-care professionals, industry, media, health-care educators, health planners and governments. Additionally, health-care professionals will need to act locally with renewed impetus to improve blood pressure goal rates. The Working Group identified five core actions, which should be rigorously implemented by practitioners and targeted by health systems throughout the world: (1) detect and prevent high blood pressure; (2) assess total cardiovascular risk; (3) form an active partnership with the patient; (4) treat hypertension to goal and (5) create a supportive environment. These actions should be pursued with vigour in accordance with current clinical guidelines, with the details of implementation adapted to the economic and cultural setting.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Lut Berben BSN for contributions to this paper, and acknowledge formally the support of the following associations and societies in this initiative: American Society of Hypertension, Asian-Pacific Society of Hypertension, European Society of Hypertension, Inter-American Society of Hypertension, International Council of Nurses, International Society of Nephrology, WONCA, World Heart Federation, World Hypertension League. This initiative was supported by an educational grant from Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol Myers-Squibb.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Hypertensive Diseases Center, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    G Bakris

  2. The Johns Hopkins University of School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA

    M Hill

  3. Department of Clinical Medicine, Prevention and Applied Biotechnologies, University of Milano, Monza, Italy

    G Mancia

  4. Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa

    K Steyn

  5. Department of Nephrology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    H R Black

  6. Behavioral Cardiovascular Health and Hypertension Program, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    T Pickering

  7. Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Switzerland

    S De Geest

  8. Department of Medicine, Hypertension Unit, 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain

    L Ruilope

  9. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    T D Giles

  10. Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    T Morgan

  11. Department of Cardiology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    S Kjeldsen

  12. Department of Medicine, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    E L Schiffrin

  13. University of Wisconsin College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    A Coenen

  14. Department of Medicine, Ruppert Health Center, Medical University of Ohio, Toledo, OH, USA

    P Mulrow

  15. Department of Family Medicine, WONCA, College of Medicine Building, Singapore, Singapore

    A Loh

  16. Cardiovascular Diseases Division, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    G Mensah

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  1. G Bakris
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Correspondence to G Bakris.

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Bakris, G., Hill, M., Mancia, G. et al. Achieving blood pressure goals globally: five core actions for health-care professionals. A worldwide call to action. J Hum Hypertens 22, 63–70 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002284

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