Public health experts and heart specialists discussed the pressing issue of hypertension and its role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) during a webinar on Sunday.

The webinar titled “Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk,” was organized by the research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) in collaboration with Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

This year's World Heart Day theme is “Use Heart for Action.”

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and in Bangladesh, heart disease accounts for 34% of all fatalities, many of which are preventable.

Experts noted that improving access to anti-hypertensive medication at the grassroots level could significantly lower heart disease risk.

The webinar revealed alarming statistics: one in four adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension.

According to the World Health Organization’s first Global Report on Hypertension 2023, approximately 273,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases annually in Bangladesh, with 54% of these deaths linked to hypertension.

Furthermore, half of individuals aged 30–79 with hypertension are unaware of their condition.

Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Shafi Majumder, Member Secretary of the Expert Panel on Health Sector Reforms and Former Director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD), emphasized the need for increased awareness programs to manage hypertension effectively.

Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology & Research at the National Heart Foundation, stated that heart disease leads to more than 40% of premature deaths in Bangladesh, underscoring the importance of controlling hypertension to reduce mortality rates.

Dr. Malay Kanti Mridha from BRAC University called for empirical studies by region, age, and gender to accurately assess hypertension prevalence nationwide.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, highlighted the necessity of evaluating the number of hypertensive patients to ensure adequate supply of anti-hypertensive medications at the community level.

Shamsun Naher Nahid, Head of Nutrition at BIRDEM General Hospital, stressed the significance of healthy dietary habits in managing hypertension and heart disease.

ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, also participated as a discussant, while PROGGA’s Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered a keynote presentation on hypertensive heart disease prevalence and moderated the session.

The webinar drew participants from various professions across the country, reflecting a collective commitment to addressing these critical health issues.

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