Global Heart Podcast: Hypertension Control – Blood Pressure Measurement, Treatment & Scale

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Global Heart Podcast, host Pablo Perel speaks with Prof. Alta Schutte and Prof. Dorairaj Prabhakaran about one of the world’s biggest cardiovascular challenges: hypertension control. From accurate blood pressure measurement to delivering effective treatment at scale, they explore what it will take to improve hypertension care globally.Prof. Schutte explains why measuring blood pressure correctly remains a major global health issue, highlighting the importance of validated devices, proper training, home monitoring, and the growing, but still evolving, role of wearables and digital technologies in hypertension detection and management.Prof. Dorairaj discusses practical strategies for hypertension treatment, including combination drug therapy, task-sharing with non-physician healthcare providers, digital health tools, and scalable delivery models for low-resource settings. The conversation also explores barriers to implementation, public health approaches, and how policy, health systems, and innovation can work together to improve blood pressure control worldwide.Together, they reflect on key research priorities, the future of hypertension care, and why tackling high blood pressure requires both strong clinical practice and bold population-level action.Tune in to learn how better measurement, smarter treatment, and public health innovation could transform hypertension control across the globe.Further reading and resources:World Heart Federation – Hypertension Resources:https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/hypertension/WHO guidance on the ethics of health research priority setting:https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240110953Comparison of dual therapies for hypertension treatment in India: a randomized clinical trial (Nature Medicine):https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03854-wWearables and Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement – Evidence, Challenges, and Clinical Perspectives:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41371-024-00932-3Research Priorities for Hypertension Control and Blood Pressure Measurement:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12826266/