Heart specialists have raised alarm over the increasing number of children having hypertension, mostly those obese and overweight.
At a virtual press conference organized by the Philippine Heart Association Council on Hypertension, Dr. Jorge Sison, former PHA president and consultant in Adult Cardiology at the Makati Medical Center, presented the objective and results of their Presyon 4-Nationwide 2021 Hypertension Survey, citing the Philippines is now facing two pandemics, of which hypertension is a “bigger pandemic than COVID-19.”
“We saw a rise in the prevalence of hypertension. It’s unstoppable,” he said.
The survey covered 2,796 subjects in 12 regions, including Metro Manila with 2,796 adults (18 years old and above) interviewed and 641 children (12 -18 years old) under the pediatric population.
When asked if the survey result should be more frightening than before, Sison replied “yes.”
He said the study is a more prospective, multi-staged, stratified and nationwide survey on hypertension in collaboration.
“Our prevalence as of 2021 is at 35 percent,” he said.
He said hypertension is “not only for the rich, but for everyone.”
Three or four out of 10 Filipinos have high blood pressure, the PHA cited.
Dr. Roberta Cawed-Mende, PHA Council on Hypertension chairperson, said COVID-19 has an impact on hypertension.
“Those with comorbidities, such as hypertension, suffer from severe COVID-19,” she said, adding “I think one effect of COVID-19 is hypertension” due to low physical activity and diet consumption amid the lockdowns.
She urged the people to have their blood pressure be checked regularly.
Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho from the Department of Health said non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes, are still the leading killer.
The no. six cause of death among the Filipinos is hypertensive disease, she said.
Dr. Aurelia Leus, another former PHA president, said the blood pressure of a child as young as two years of age must be checked periodically.
“Lifestyle modification should be initiated in all children with hypertension. Children must not only smoke but they must not be exposed to cigar smoke,” she said.
“Lifestyle modification is a family affair,” she added. Hypertension is genetics, she lamented.
“There is a need to treat the family, not only the parent, but also to check the blood pressure of their children,” she noted.
Dr. Orlando Bugarin, outgoing PHA president, said “we (at the PHA) are really aggressive despite COVID-19, (and) creative to work into different initiatives to promote advocacies not only on hypertension but on other cardiovascular diseases.”
Dr. Gilbert Vilela, incoming PHA president, thanked the group’s past presidents and Corbridge Group Philippines for its “great effort” in providing logistical support.