Public health experts and cardiologists emphasized the critical importance of controlling hypertension to reduce heart disease risks at a webinar held on World Heart Day 2024.
The event, titled "Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk," was organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) on Sunday. This year’s theme for World Heart Day is “Use Heart for Action.”
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and in Bangladesh, it accounts for 34% of all deaths, many of which are preventable. Hypertension, a major contributor to CVD, affects one in four adults in the country. Speakers noted that ensuring the availability of anti-hypertensive medication at the grassroots level could significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.
Data from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first Global Report on Hypertension 2023 revealed that 273,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases annually in Bangladesh, with 54% of these deaths linked to hypertension. Alarmingly, 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), stressed the need for increased awareness campaigns to manage hypertension effectively. Similarly, Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of Epidemiology & Research at the National Heart Foundation, noted that controlling hypertension is crucial to reducing heart disease mortality, which is responsible for more than 40% of premature deaths in Bangladesh.
Dr. Malay Kanti Mridha of BRAC University’s James P Grant School of Public Health highlighted the need for empirical studies by region, age, and gender to better understand the prevalence of hypertension across the country. Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, also underscored the importance of assessing the number of hypertensive patients to ensure the adequate supply of necessary medications.
Shamsun Naher Nahid, Head of Nutrition at BIRDEM General Hospital, emphasized the role of a healthy diet in managing hypertension and preventing heart disease. ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, and other professionals from various regions participated in the discussion.
The webinar was moderated by PROGGA’s Coordinator, Sadia Galiba Prova, who presented key insights on the prevalence of hypertensive heart disease in Bangladesh.
