The global burden of hypertension: good news and bad news.

Hypertension is a common disorder and a powerful risk factor for death and disability from heart disease and kidney failure. Worldwide, it affects an estimated 690 million persons and it is the major risk factor for stroke. The good news is that safe and effective treatments are available and in the majority of patients, hypertension can be diagnosed easily and blood pressure can be controlled. Unfortunately, most hypertensive patients have uncontrolled blood pressure. To effectively address this situation, a renewed commitment to refine strategies for controlling blood pressure is necessary. Additional emphasis is also warranted for the prevention of hypertension in the first place.