Hypertension rising among youth; experts call for urgent action

Sustainable financing and effective preventive and treatment programmes are urgently needed to tackle the rising prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases among young people in Bangladesh, experts said at a webinar today (11 August).

Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, said sustainable financing is essential to ensure a regular supply of medicines at primary-level healthcare facilities.

"It can be one of the most worthwhile investments in building a healthy young generation," he said while speaking at the webinar.

Malay Kanti Mridha, professor at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, said hypertension could be effectively controlled through evidence-based preventive and curative measures.

The speakers made the observations at the webinar titled "Hypertension Risk Among Youth and the Way Forward: Bangladesh Perspective", organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) to mark International Youth Day 2026, according to a press release.

The event was supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and co-organised by youth organisations including Bangladesh Medical Students' Society, Platform Doctors Foundation, It's Humanity Foundation and Give Bangladesh.

According to speakers, non-communicable diseases account for 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh, with 19% occurring prematurely.

They cited the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics' Health and Morbidity Status Survey-2025, which showed that hypertension ranked first among the country's top 10 diseases.

Data from the Bangladesh non-communicable diseases STEPS Survey 2018 showed that around 12% of people aged 18-39 had hypertension.

International Youth Day is being observed today under the theme "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations".