Hypertension (high blood pressure) often goes unnoticed but is among the leading modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. The prevalence, consequences, disease risk and associated mortality of hypertension place a considerable burden not only on individuals and but on health service resources.
Despite being the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death, research has shown that Ireland has one of the lowest rates of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among 12 highincome countries. Indeed, a review of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) in the Journal of Public Health in 2016 reported that 64% of over-50s had high blood pressure and, worryingly, 45% of those were unaware of their condition. Of those with high blood pressure, 59% were taking medication to reduce it, but almost half of those did not actually have their blood pressure controlled to normal levels.
