key: cord-0803376-hi94edrd
authors: Schutte, Aletta E.
title: Advancing hypertension management in Asia 2021, beyond COVID‐19
date: 2021-02-14
journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich)
DOI: 10.1111/jch.14211
sha: 7dca28fa6f0c1fb38a55162826d5fa309a3fe94b
doc_id: 803376
cord_uid: hi94edrd

nan

When entering 2021-independent of which country or continent we live in-we are overwhelmed in the scientific literature, general media, and our personal lives on the impact that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is having on each of us. It has restricted almost every facet of our lives, leaving a perception that COVID-19 is disproportionately contributing to deaths. In January 2021, there have already been almost 2.1 million COVID-19-related deaths reported globally over the past year. Yet, based on the figures of the Global Burden of Disease study, from January to December 2019 a total of 10.8 million hypertension-related deaths occurred. 1 The situation is complex. Hypertension is the most common comorbidity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients-as reported in 5700 patients in New York, where 56.6% had hypertension. 2 While millions are spent on vaccinating and addressing COVID-19, more than ever we need much greater emphasis on preventing, treating, and controlling hypertension, which is remaining the "silent killer". If there is one irreversible and beneficial consequence of COVID-19, it is how innovatively digital technology is being usedover and beyond technological advances pre-COVID. Not only is digital technology used for early surveillance, testing, quarantine, and contact tracing, but it is adopted and integrated into policy and health care. 5 The potential unintended consequences of these Additionally, this special issue includes comprehensive reviews on hypertension comorbidities and outcomes (from chronic kidney disease, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, obesity, mental health in the elderly, to arterial stiffness, and blood pressure variability) and diagnosis and risk assessment (specific risk assessment tools and screening for insulin resistance in Asian patients).

The 2020 ISH Global Hypertension Guidelines 4 noted the importance to take ethnicity into account when managing hypertension as prevalence, treatment, and control rates vary according to ethnicity.

These differences may be attributed to genetic differences, but environmental factors, such as lifestyle (eg, diet) and socioeconomic status, may alter health behaviors which may affect blood pressure.

In this special issue, multiethnicity in Asia is appropriately discussed, as well as regional differences in home heart rates and ambulatory blood pressure profiles.

All possible efforts are required to lower blood pressure globally, including Asia. The close collaboration between different

a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study

Presenting characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes among 5700 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the New York City Area

Rationale and design for the Asia BP@Home study on home blood pressure control status in 12 Asian countries and regions

International Society of hypertension global hypertension practice guidelines

Applications of digital technology in COVID-19 pandemic planning and response

Advancing hypertension management in Asia 2021, beyond COVID-19