Current status of hypertension care and management in the Philippines

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome clinical research & reviews Vol. 18; no. 4; p. 103008
• Main Authors: Dela Rosa, Jared Gabriel L., Catral, Charlene Divine M., Reyes, Nico Alexander, Opiso, Danna Mae S., Ong, Erika P., Ornos, Eric David B., Santos, Jerico R., Quebral, Elgin Paul B., Callanta, Maria Llaine J., Oliva, Raymond V., Tantengco, Ourlad Alzeus G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Diagnosis; Disease Management; Filipino; High blood pressure; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - epidemiology; Hypertension - therapy; Philippines - epidemiology; Prevalence; Prognosis; Treatment; Philippines; Hypertension; Filipino; High blood pressure; Treatment; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 1871-4021; 1878-0334; 1878-0334
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2024.103008

In this paper, we discuss the existing data on the burden of hypertension in the Philippines and present the status of management, prevention, and control of hypertension in the country. A literature review was conducted to synthesize the status of hypertension care in the Philippines. Hypertension continues to contribute to the country's leading causes of death. Similar to the global trend, almost half of hypertensive Filipinos are still not aware of their condition, and only 27 % have it under control. The prevalence of hypertension has steadily increased from 22 % in 1993 to 25.15 % in 2013. The 2020 Philippine Society for Hypertension clinical practice guideline defines hypertension as an office BP of 140/90 mm Hg or above following the proper standard BP measurement. During the past decade, monotherapy has been the mode of treatment in more than 80 % of Filipino patients. This could also explain why the BP control rates have been low. The most prevalent complications of hypertension in the Philippines were stroke (11.6 %), ischemic heart disease (7.7 %), chronic kidney disease (6.30 %), and hypertensive retinopathy (2.30 %). Hypertension causes economic tolls on patients, from the cost of drugs to hospitalization and complications. Hospitalization from hypertensive complications can easily wipe out the savings of middle-class families and is catastrophic for lower-income Filipinos. In this review, we summarize the existing data on the burden of hypertension among Filipinos and the risk factors associated with the disease. We present the current screening tools, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention strategies for hypertension in the Philippines. Lastly, we propose solutions to meet the global targets of hypertension management and help relieve the growing burden of this disease. •Hypertension continues to contribute to the Philippines' leading causes of death.•The prevalence of hypertension has steadily increased from 22 % in 1993 to 25.15 % in 2013.•Monotherapy has been the mode of treatment in more than 80 % of Filipino patients.•Hypertension causes economic tolls on patients, from the cost of drugs, hospitalization, and complications.