Rabat – High blood pressure constitutes a significant health hazard in Morocco as it affects 35% of adults aged 30-79 years, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.
Both women and men are liable to the disease, the report shows, detailing that it affected 35% of men and 36% of women aged 30-79 years as of 2019.
High blood is a serious medical condition that could lead to the bursting or obstruction of the arteries responsible for delivering blood and oxygen to the brain, which results in a brain stroke. The report, which was published on Tuesday, recalled that a stroke has the potential to be fatal.
The WHO report also shows that high blood pressure remains alarmingly prevalent in Morocco, exceeding the global average of 33% in 2019.
Out of the 6.1 million Moroccans suffering from high blood pressure, 43% are diagnosed (34% among men, and 52% among women), with 29% already treated (20% for men and 37% for women), and 10% of cases controlled (6% for men and 4% for women).
According to the report, an additional 2.4 million Moroccans with high blood pressure would need to be treated to reach the recommended 50% control rate. If the country were to reach this target, 223,000 deaths would be averted by 2040.
In terms of the leading causes of death in Morocco, the report explains that non-communicable diseases, which include heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes, accounted for 24% of total deaths in 2019 (26% for men and 22% for women).
Meanwhile, deaths from cardiovascular disease due to irregular blood pressure accounted for a staggering 63% of total deaths (59% for men and 67% for women), while deaths from cardiovascular disease reached 127,000 in 2019 (60,700 for men and 65,800 for women).
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