ABSTRACT
In 1990, there were an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide, of which about 14 million (28%) were due to cardiovascular disease (Table 2.1).1 By 2020, it is anticipated that the global burden of cardiovascular disease will have grown substantially in both relative and absolute terms and at this time, it is projected that there will be about 68 million deaths worldwide, of which about 25 million (37%) will be due to cardiovascular causes.1 Blood pressure levels are strongly associated with all the leading causes of cardiovascular death2-6
and are likely to be an important contributor to most cardiovascular deaths worldwide. While the proportion of the global cardiovascular disease burden that is directly attributable to blood pressure is not clearly established, there is little doubt that blood pressure is at least as important as other leading determinants of vascular risk such as smoking, cholesterol and diabetes.7
