Raised blood pressure (BP), also known as hypertension, is a 'silent killer' and the leading cause of death in Australia, where it contributes to more than 25,000 deaths each year. It is also the leading risk factor for death from stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and dementia, yet 68% of Australians with hypertension are uncontrolled.
In response to this pressing issue, a Call to Action was published in 2022, leading to the establishment of the National Hypertension Taskforce, launched by Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care.
The National Hypertension Taskforce, led by the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance and Hypertension Australia, has now published a Roadmap to improve Australia's blood pressure control rates from the current 32% to 70% by 2030. Achieving this target will make Australia a global leader in blood pressure management.
The Roadmap, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, is built on three pillars to (A) prevent; (B) detect; and (C) effectively treat raised BP.
"Improving blood pressure control rates in Australia is not only critical but possible," says Professor Alta Schutte, Co-lead of the National Hypertension Taskforce. "The Roadmap provides a clear guide of how we can make that happen. We welcome individuals and groups who have been affected by high blood pressure, stroke, dementia, heart or kidney disease, or with a shared interest to substantially improve blood pressure control in Australia, to
