Nearly 42pc Pakistanis hypertensive, only 12pc control it: WHO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is grappling with a worsening hypertension crisis, with 42 percent of adults aged 30 to 79 years suffering from high blood pressure, significantly higher than the global average of 34 percent. The alarming part is that only 12 percent manage to control the condition, according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Hypertension Report 2025, released on Tuesday.

The report estimates that of the 38.6 million Pakistani adults with hypertension, nearly 34 million do not have their blood pressure under control. Only 44 percent (17.1 million) have ever been diagnosed, 34 percent (13.1 million) are receiving treatment, and a mere 12 percent (4.6 million) successfully manage their blood pressure through medicines or lifestyle changes.

Health experts warn that this lack of control is fuelling heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and premature deaths across the country. In 2021, Pakistan reported 1.67 million deaths, of which 402,000 were attributed to cardiovascular diseases. Strikingly, over half (51 percent) of these cardiovascular deaths were linked to high blood pressure.

Globally, the WHO report indicates that an estimated 1.4 billion adults aged 30–79 years were living with hypertension in 2024, yet fewer than one in five—just 320 million people (23 percent)—had their condition under control. The prevalence varies by region, ranging from 29 percent in the Western Pacific to 38 percent in the Eastern Mediterranean. Only four countries—Canada, Costa Rica, Iceland, and South Korea—have achieved national control rates above 50 percent. By contrast, 99 countries, including Pakistan, have control rates below 20 percent.

The WHO also warned that high blood pressure is the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for 11 million deaths in 2021—16 percent of all global deaths. If unchecked, the number of hypertensive adults could surpass 1.5 billion by 2030, with low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan facing the heaviest burden.

Pakistan’s national preparedness remains weak. The country has no national target for blood pressure control, no updated guidelines for hypertension management, and no standardised patient information system at the primary healthcare level. It has also failed to conduct recent national surveys on blood pressure or salt intake—both critical for policymaking.

Risk factors remain widespread. Pakistanis consume an average of 9 grams of salt daily, almost double the WHO-recommended 5 grams. Tobacco use is reported among 19 percent of adults, 22 percent of adults are obese, and 46 percent report insufficient physical activity. Alarmingly, obesity is almost twice as prevalent in women (25 percent) compared to men (19 percent).

The WHO emphasised that effective treatment and prevention strategies can achieve control rates above 50 percent. Countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, and South Korea have made progress by embedding hypertension care into universal health coverage, investing in primary care, and ensuring affordable medicines.

Projections for Pakistan are dire. If current trends continue, the number of hypertensive adults will rise sharply by 2030, further straining an already fragile health system. Cardiovascular diseases are already the leading cause of death in the country, and the report warns of escalating costs and health system overload unless urgent reforms are undertaken.

While Pakistan has a cardiovascular disease policy and a salt reduction strategy in place, experts stress that these are insufficient without implementation of population-wide screening, stronger primary care systems, affordable medicines, and mass awareness campaigns to promote healthier diets and lifestyles.

“Hypertension is the most preventable cause of premature deaths, yet it continues to be neglected in Pakistan,” health professionals said, urging immediate action to integrate hypertension control into universal health coverage. They maintained that preventive programmes, routine check-ups, and reduced salt intake could save tens of thousands of lives annually.

The WHO has called on all countries, including Pakistan, to embed hypertension control into national health reforms. Unless urgent measures are taken, millions of Pakistanis will remain vulnerable to this silent killer.