High pressure, high stakes: Bangladesh facing a growing cardiovascular crisis

Bangladesh is facing a mounting public health emergency as cardiovascular diseases claim 283,000 lives each year, with more than half linked to untreated hypertension. 

One in four adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension, yet access to treatment remains inconsistent. The World Health Organisation estimates that over 1,000 lives are lost every hour globally to strokes and heart attacks caused by high blood pressure.

Although 80% of heart diseases and strokes are preventable, heart conditions account for nearly 34% of all deaths. Immediate action is necessary to expand access to anti-hypertensive medicines and strengthen community-level prevention, experts said at a World Heart Day 2025 webinar. 

The event, titled "Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk", was organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator. This year's theme, "Don't Miss a Beat," underscored the importance of timely action.

Speakers stressed that making anti-hypertensive medicines widely available is the greatest opportunity to control hypertension and save millions of lives. Professor Dr Abdullah Al Shafi Majumder, former Director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, said, "Hypertension weakens the heart, reduces its efficiency, and increases the risk of heart attack. Early diagnosis and consistent control through medicine are vital." 

Dr Geeta Rani Devi, Program Manager at Community Based Health Care (CBHC), added, "Efforts are underway to ensure anti-hypertensive medicines are available at all Community Clinics under the Community Clinic Health Support Trust."

Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology & Research at the National Heart Foundation, emphasised the need to reduce cardiovascular risk factors and strengthen grassroots hypertension control. 

Dr Abu Jamil Faisel, President-Elect of the Public Health Association of Bangladesh, called for a comprehensive program involving the public and professionals across multiple sectors. 

Highlighting population-level impact, Professor Dr Malay Kanti Mridha of BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, noted that a 5 mmHg reduction in average systolic blood pressure could cut stroke deaths by 14% and cardiovascular deaths by 9% in Bangladesh.

The webinar was chaired by PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair and moderated by PROGGA Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova, with participants from diverse regions and professions. Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, also contributed as a discussant.

Public health experts are now calling for improving access to preventive care, strengthening hypertension management, and mobilising both community and healthcare systems to reduce the country's cardiovascular disease burden.