In Brazil, it is estimated that 33% of the adult population has hypertension and among those over 60 years old, this percentage is around 65%. But between 30% and 50% of Brazilians are unaware of the diagnosis. Of those who know, some take irregular medication or do not use medication and only 20% of hypertension patients are properly controlled.
In younger age groups, blood pressure is higher among men, but after 60 years of age, the disease affects women more.
Hypertension is associated with 45% of deaths from cardiovascular disease, about 400,000 per year in Brazil, according to the entity.
According to the cardiometer (indicator of the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases) of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, in 2021, by 2 pm on April 28, cardiovascular diseases have already killed 130,023 people in the country.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon