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| Dr. Don Robespierre C. Reyes hosted the 4th Presyon edition webinar organized by the Philippine Heart Association with Corrbridge as sponsor |
I recently found out I am
hypertensive stage 2, meaning I am at high risk for coronary heart disease,
which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. I will need to have my blood
pressure checked regularly and follow a strict regimen that will likely include
dietary changes, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
I never even thought I had it
because I wasn’t even aware of its symptoms. I knew I had diabetes mellitus
type 2, but I didn’t know it could also lead to hypertension. Had it not been
for my desire to get vaccinated against COVID-19, I wouldn’t have visited my
cardiologist. And thus, I’ve found out I was hypertensive and I was given
maintenance medicines to keep my blood pressure down. I was given meds that have the powerful
combination of amlodiphine + losartan in one tablet. That’s why I was glad when I had
been invited along with other bloggers to listen, learn and attend the recent
Presyon 4 Webinar organized by the Philippine Heart Association [PHA]. The
webinar proved to be very informative especially with resource speakers led by
Dr. Jorge A. Sison, past president of the PHA, had discussed the prevalence
of hypertension in the country. He also emphasized the importance of awareness,
treatment, compliance, and BP control rates. Dr. Sison mentioned that most of
the time, we Filipinos would take things for granted, hence, we’d find out
about our heart’s condition with 58% end-organ damage. What we often overlook
is that stroke is highly related to uncontrolled hypertension,
microvasculopathy, risk factors, and poor compliance. According to Dr. Sison,
hypertension-related stroke was the most common cause of mortality among the hospital-based population [READ: Uncontrolled BP and poor compliance]  It was alarming to note that
amongst the adult population above 18 years old, there were 1,399 males and 1,398
females surveyed. While pediatric population [those from 12-18 years old] has
329 males and 312 females suffering from hypertension. Among the hypertensives,
about 25% answered that they have their blood pressure checked only at the
comforts of their own homes. Thus, the prevalence of hypertension in the
Philippines among adults is 37% [M:52% F: 48%] where 19% are very much aware of
their condition and 18% are unaware. The prevalence of hypertension among
adolescents is 5% [M: 68% F: 32%] And sadly, none is receiving any treatment.
Among adult hypertensives, the treatment rate is 67%, compliance is 87% and BP
control rate is 36%. The most common drug used in the country is ARB. And 78% of
hypertensives are on monotherapy with the highest compliance among beta-blocker
users. Adult hypertensives have higher BMI, waist circumference, and central
obesity rate. End organ surveillance showed abnormal ECG in 57%, abnormal ABI
in 36%, and microalbuminuria in 11.5% in adult hypertensives. |
