Introduction.Hypertension and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are not as yet priority issues for international development. This is surprising, since NCDs already account for a higher share of mortality and illness in low and middle income countries (LMICs) than infectious diseases do, and are set to rapidly increase (WHO, 2010). Referring to the broader policy literature, the papers identifies reasons for this general neglect. These include a general perception that, in contrast to high income countries, in LMICs NCDs disproportionately affect relatively wealthy groups. Drawing on survey data for six countries, we examine the validity of this perception with particular reference to hypertension prevalence, awareness and effective control. In conclusion, we considers the wider applications of its findings for agenda-setting for NCDs in global health.
NCDs, hypertension and international development priorities.NCDs include a range of health conditions, such as cardio-vascular diseases, cancers and diabetes. In 2008 they accounted for 63 per cent of all deaths globally, and 80 per cent of these deaths occurred in LMICs (WHO, 2010). In all world regions except Africa the number of deaths caused by NCDs in 2008 already exceeded those caused by infectious, maternal, perinatal and nutritional diseases combined. It is projected that this will be the case for Africa by 2030 (WHO, 2010. NCDs also account for around half the global burden of illness and disability (Beaglehole et al, 2011).Hypertension is by some distance the leading risk factor for NCDs. WHO estimates that in 2008 hypertension was responsible for about 13 per cent of all global deaths (WHO, 2010).