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Raised blood pressure as a risk factor for chronic disease
Introduction The questions in this module measure:
History of raised blood pressureRepeated systolic and diastolic
blood pressure
Research
findingsSome research findings related to raised blood pressure
are as follows:
Worldwide, raised blood pressure is estimated to cause 7.1
million deaths,about 13% of the total. This accounts for 64.3
million DALYs or 4.4% of thetotal.
1
Raised blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary heart
disease andischemic as well as hemorrhagic stroke.
2
Blood pressure levels have been shown to be positively and
continuouslyrelated to the risk of stroke and coronary heart
disease.
3The risk of
cardiovascular disease doubles for each increment of 20/10 mm Hg
of blood
pressure, starting as low as 115/75.4
Complications of raised blood pressure include heart failure,
peripheralvascular disease, renal impairment, fundal hemorrhages,
and papillodema.
5
Treating systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure to
targets that areless than 140/90 is associated with a decrease in
cardiovascular complications.
3
Stage 1/Grade 1 hypertension, is defined in a clinical setting
when the meanblood pressure is equal to or above 140/90 and less
than 160/100 on two or
more measurements on each of two or more visits on separate
days.3,4,5
Stage 2/Grade 2 hypertension is defined in a clinical setting
when the meanblood pressure is equal to or more than 160/100 and
less than 180/110 on twoor more measurements on each of two or more
visits on separate days.
3,4,5
Stage 3/Grade 3 hypertension is defined in a clinical setting
when the meanblood pressure is equal to or more than 180/110 during
two or more
measurements on each of two or more visits on separate
days.3,4,5
Reference 1. The World Health Report 2002. Reducing risks,
promoting healthy life.World Health Organization, Geneva, 2002.
2. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases.
Report of a jointWHO/FAO expert consultation. World Health
Organization, Geneva,2003.
3. 2003 World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society
ofHypertension (ISH) statement on management of hypertension.
Journal ofHypertension 2003; 21: 1983-1992.
4. Chobanian A V, Bakris G L, Black H R et al. The Seventh
Report of theNational Committee on Prevention, Detection,
Evaluation, and Treatment
of high blood pressure. Journal of American Medical Association,
2003;
