MANILA, Philippines - High blood pressure remains to be a growing health concern in the Philippines. Despite numerous efforts to reduce the prevalence of this disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) is still on the rise, warranting continued studies and nationwide surveys such as the PRESYON 3.
In 2007, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) conducted a nationwide survey “PRESYON 2” and found that of the 10.5 million Filipinos with hypertension, 25 percent were not aware of their condition.
As far as treatment was concerned, only 13 percent of hypertensive cases were controlled (kept at normal levels).
Dubbed as the “Presyon 3 Target Organ Survey – PHA Council on Hypertension National Survey on Hypertension,” the study is in line with continuing efforts to improve the management of hypertension in the Philippines,” said PHA president Dr. Saturnino Javier.
PHA Council on Hypertension chairperson Dr. Irma Yape, the main objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of hypertension, and to assess the current status of hypertension management in the Philippines.
“We, at A. Menarini Philippines Inc. consider it a great privilege to partner with the Philippine Heart Association as sponsor of the Presyon 3 study,” said Ninia Torres, A. Manarini Philipines Inc. (formerly Invida Philippines Inc.) general manager.
“As a leading Italian research-based pharmaceutical group and provider of a highly cardioselective beta blocker nebivolol which effectively treats hypertension and congestive heart failure, Menarini is committed to improve therapeutic goals and outcomes, particularly in hypertension,” Torres said.
Javier said he looks forward to the success of the Presyon 3 study, knowing that the results would not only help improve the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension but more so, spare Filipinos from the health risks and complications associated with this silent killer.
Potentially serious health conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart diseases, stroke, kidney and eye diseases have been linked to uncontrolled hypertension, he said.
Menarini, with headquarters in Florence, is the leading research-based pharmaceutical group in Italy. It ranks 15th among 4,881 companies in Europe, and 34th among 14,051 companies in the world.
Across the globe, Menarini has 12,890 employees and operates in more than 100 countries and caters to the needs of patients and physicians in the therapeutic fields of cardiology, gastroenterology, pain, infectious disease, pulmonology, endocrinology, and oncology.