High Blood Pressure

Key Findings: Wirral Hypertension Profile (January 2016)

Also see latest Cardiovascular Disease Primary Care Intelligence Pack for information on Hypertension and other CVD related aspects

This profile compares Wirral with data for England, local authorities in the North West region and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) group of similar local authorities.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading risk factors for premature death and disability and can lead to conditions including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and dementia. 

A blood pressure reading over 140/90mmHg indicates hypertension, which should be confirmed by tests on separate occasions to reach a diagnosis.

Diseases caused by high blood pressure cost the NHS over £2 billion every year. By reducing the blood pressure of the nation as a whole, £850 million of NHS and social care spend could be avoided over ten years. International comparison shows that improvement is possible and plausible. While around four in ten adults in England with high blood pressure are both diagnosed and controlled to recommended levels, the rate achieved in Canada is seven in ten (achieved with similar resources).

In Wirral the percentage of hypertension detected and controlled to 150/90 is 44.7%. In order to match the achievement of Canada a further 19,300 people would need to receive treatment and have their blood pressure controlled. Public Health England has published Evidence- based advice on how to effectively identify, treat and prevent hypertension; Tackling high blood pressure: from evidence into action. For more information visit the GOV.uk website. 


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