One-size-fits-all management of hypertension: a key to poor control of hypertension in low income settings in sub-Saharan Africa?

There is evidence that hypertension has reached epidemic proportions with the greatest impact in the developing countries (1,2). It remains under diagnosed, under investigated, and under treated (3). The awareness rate remains very low even in health professionals at the forefront in the fight against chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (4). The armamentarium in treating hypertension is vast and efficient. Basic diagnostic tests needed for the investigations of these NCDs, and the essential medicines recommended for the treatment of these conditions largely remain unavailable and unaffordable in low income settings (5). In hypertensive patients on anti-hypertensive medicines, the control rates remain very low in low income settings (6-9).