The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever report on the devastating global impact of high blood pressure along with recommendations to tackle the same.

• The report is being launched during the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly which addresses progress for the Sustainable Development Goals including health goals on pandemic preparedness and response, ending tuberculosis and attaining Universal Health Coverage.
• Global Impact: Hypertension affects a significant portion of the world’s population, with 1 in 3 adults worldwide having high blood pressure.
• Undertreatment: Approximately 4 out of every 5 people with hypertension are not adequately treated. If countries can scale up coverage, 76 million deaths could be averted between 2023 and 2050.