High blood pressure in Latin America: a call to action.
High blood pressure (BP) is an enormous global problem, and is especially challenging for low- and middle-income countries such as those of Latin America. Although developed countries have benefited from significant reductions in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in recent decades, comparable reductions have not been achieved in Latin America. In fact, the prevalence of high BP is increasing in many Latin American countries, and the situation will worsen without definitive efforts to correct it. The growing preponderance of hypertension and chronic diseases, coupled with expected increases in population growth, present a mounting threat to Latin American economies. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the burden of high BP throughout Latin America, and presents recommendations for change. The dismal observations warrant a call to action for improved control of high BP and other cardiovascular risk factors across Latin America. Achieving these ambitious goals will require collaborative efforts by many groups, including policymakers, international organizations, healthcare providers, schools and society as a whole.
Rubinstein
Adolfo
A
Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Alcocer
Luis
L
Chagas
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011158:Population Growth; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult