Hypertension Prevalence Innovations

 Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the world, resulting in 17.3 million deaths annually, with 80% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).1 Elevated blood pressure, a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke,2 is the leading global risk for mortality.1 Despite global efforts to combat hypertension, treatment and control rates are very low in LMICs.3 Given the continued significant health and economic burden on LMIC populations, there is an urgent need to address the problem by way of novel approaches.   The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD), funds, coordinates, and facilitates global collaborations in implementation research, focusing on the prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases in LMICs and vulnerable populations in high-income countries.4 The first round of GACD-sponsored research projects focused on hypertension, and included 15 research teams from around the world.5 These research projects have involved the development and evaluation of several important innovative approaches to hypertension control, including: community engagement, salt reduction, salt substitution, task redistribution, mHealth, and fixed-dose combination  the rationale for each of these innovative approaches, as well as summarize the experience of some of the GACD teams in these respective areas. Where relevant, we also draw upon the wider literature to illustrate how these approaches to hypertension control are being implemented in LMICs.