More than 1.1 billion adults worldwide have hypertension, affecting almost 25% of men and 20% of women. Hypertension is the largest contributor to global morbidity and mortality and is linked to an estimated 9.4 million deaths per year – higher than tobacco use, high blood glucose, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, and obesity. Effective control of hypertension is essential to improvements in health: each 10 mmHg reduction in blood pressure leads to vascular risk reduction. As reported in 2016, however, more than 50% of adults with raised blood pressure were not diagnosed with hypertension and fewer than 30% of adults taking antihypertensive medication had controlled blood pressure.

The "RAAS Fact checking" programme – developed by leading cardiologists from around the world – will challenge commonly held beliefs to separate the facts from fake news through evidence-based research. Illustrated by real-world clinical scenarios, participants will learn about the latest research and recommendations for effective and safe clinical management of adults with hypertension, including those with other cardiovascular conditions, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease.