Hypertension Key to Heart Disease in Asia

High blood pressure was found to be the key factor in more than half of cardiovascular disease cases in the Asia-Pacific region, a study found.

We aimed to identify the role of hypertension in cardiovascular diseases in the Asia-Pacific region and found that hypertension was the key factor in more than half of cases, said Dr. Alexandra Martiniuk of The George Institute for International Health. This shows the potential reduction in deaths from heart disease and stroke that could have been achieved if high blood pressure were controlled in this region.

The researchers also found that the fraction of deaths caused by stroke, as a result of hypertension, was more than 60 percent in certain countries — Indonesia and Mongolia. High levels were also found in Malaysia, China, Philippines and Hong Kong — more than 50 percent. The study also identified high blood pressure causes a high percentage of deaths caused by heart disease in Mongolia and China at around 30 percent, the study said.

Hypertension is the third-leading modifiable risk factor for global burden of disease after tobacco and alcohol.