Published in News
There are nearly 1 billion hypertension sufferers worldwide and almost two thirds of those sufferers live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite this high figure, the World Health Organisation reports that millions more hypertension sufferers go undiagnosed.
This review was authored by GACD hypertension project 2 researchers Dr Robby Nieuwlaat and Dr Martin McKee as well as researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Published by PLOS medicine on July 2013, the review assessed the weaknesses in health systems that ultimately contribute to the inadequate treatment and control of hypertension.
The researchers first identified 53 studies that incorporated the assessment of national and regional health systems and whether these systems have any impact on hypertension awareness, treatment and control. The results of these studies were then explored using a conceptual framework called the narrative synthesis which uses a textual approach to the process of synthesis and primarily relies on the words and the text to tell the story of the research findings[i].
The review findings suggests that reducing health insurance payments and increasing health care in countries with no universal health coverage can improve hypertension awareness, treatment and control.
The review also draws attention to the fact that more research is needed on the links between healthcare systems and hypertension management in LMICs.