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Health care in low- and middle-income countries is ill-prepared for the growing number of people with high blood pressure, with more than two-thirds of those affected without treatment, a new study reveals.
The researchers studied health data from a million people in southern countries, and found that less than half of those affected had been diagnosed with hypertension or hypertension. Of these patients, only 30% are treated and only 10% have the disease under control.
The research team badyzed health care hypertension in 44 countries. Using a cascading approach to care, which examined the number of hypertensive individuals screened, diagnosed, treated and controlled, they determined the extent to which health systems in different countries treated people with hypertension.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have worked with colleagues at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the University of Göttingen and the Heidelberg School of Medicine, publishing their findings in The lancet.
Justine Davies, Professor of Global Health at the Institute for Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham:
Other studies have shown that hypertension, or high blood pressure, prevailed in low- and middle-income countries.
Our research adds by showing that care in these countries is not able to match the number of people in need of treatment. This is a particular problem because without treatment, the risk of complications is considerable – stroke and death.
This is not all bad news though. We found that some countries – such as Costa Rica, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan and Peru – came out much better than expected, and that it is important to Take a closer look at these countries and learn from their success. "
The group conducted its research with the help of surveys, including the STEPS survey of the World Health Organization, which uses a uniform approach to obtain data on the factors of established risk.
"Our study shows not only that the care for high blood pressure in these countries is seriously inadequate, but also where exactly patients are lost in the treatment system," says Pascal Geldsetzer, postdoctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and first author of the study.
Dr. Mary Mayige, Principal Investigator at the National Institute of Medical Research in Tanzania and co-author of the study, commented: "There is an urgent need to strengthen the health system for the treatment of chronic diseases in low-income countries, which includes improving information systems and increasing funding to ensure access. universal at all levels, from preventive interventions to tertiary health care services. "
The researchers first determined the number of people with hypertension. On this basis, they determined how many of these patients were examined, diagnosed and treated each time. Finally, they badyzed how many patients successfully controlled the disease with drugs.
"High blood pressure can be treated relatively well and at a lower cost, but undiagnosed or untreated hypertension represents a considerable risk for those involved" says Sebastian Vollmer, professor of development economics at the University of Göttingen.
"High blood pressure is one of the major diseases prevalent in the South and is becoming more common as the populations of these countries age.This study provides important information for policymakers to know. where are presently the most serious problems in the chain of treatment of hypertension ", Till Bärnighausen, Professor of Global Health at the Heidelberg University Hospital and the Heidelberg School of Medicine.
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