Abstract:
Elevated blood pressure, a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, is
the leading global risk for mortality. Despite global efforts to combat hypertension, it continues to
exert a significant health and economic burden on low- and middle-income country (LMIC)
populations, thereby triggering the need to address the problem by way of novel approaches. The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases has funded 15 research projects related to hypertension
control in low-resource settings worldwide. These research projects have developed and evaluated
several important innovative approaches to hypertension control, including: community
engagement, salt reduction, salt substitution, task redistribution, mHealth, and fixed-dose
combination therapies. In this paper, we briefly review the rationale for each of these innovative
approaches, as well as summarize the experience of some of the research teams in these respective
areas. Where relevant, we also draw upon the wider literature to illustrate how these approaches to
hypertension control are being implemented in LMICs. The studies outlined in this report
demonstrate innovative and practical methods of implementing for improving hypertension control
in diverse environments and contexts worldwide.
