The influence of health systems on hypertension awareness, treatment, and control: a systematic literature review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hypertension (HT) affects an estimated one billion people worldwide, nearly three-quarters of whom live in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). In both developed and developing countries, only a minority of individuals with HT are adequately treated. The reasons are many but, as with other chronic diseases, they include weaknesses in health systems. We conducted a systematic review of the influence of national or regional health systems on HT awareness, treatment, and control.

Methods and findings

Eligible studies were those that analyzed the impact of health systems arrangements at the regional or national level on HT awareness, treatment, control, or antihypertensive medication adherence. The following databases were searched on 13th May 2013: Medline, Embas

SUBMITTER: Maimaris W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3728036 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature