S-31-3: BURDEN OF HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE AND HIGH SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE IN AUSTRALIA FROM 1990–2019: RESULTS FROM THE GBD STUDY

Abstract

Background: There is a dearth of comprehensive studies on the burden of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and high systolic blood pressure (SBP) among the Australian population over time. We aimed to explore the burden of HHD and SBP, and how it changed over time from 1990 to 2019. Methods: We analysed the 2019 Global Burden of Disease data with a focus on Australia. We assessed the prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALY), years lived with disability (YLD) and years of life lost (YLL) attributable to HHD and high SBP between 1990 and 2019 in Australia. GBD data sources included surveillance and survey data, published, and unpublished research articles and reports, vital registration and hospital data. Data were presented as point estimates with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UI). Results: From 1990 to 2019, the burden of HHD and SBP in Australia decreased. Age standardized prevalence rate of HHD was 119.3 cases per 100,000 people (95% UI 86.6 to 161.0) in 1990, compared to 80.1 cases (95% UI 57.4 to 108.1) in 2019. HHD death stood at 3.4 cases per 100,000 population (95% UI 2.6 to 3.8) in 1990, compared to 2.5 (95% UI 1.9 to 3.0), 32.0 cases (95% UI 26.1 to 38.8) in 2019. HHD contributed to 57.2 cases per 100,000 population (95% UI 46.6 to 64.7) of DALYs in 1990 compared to 38.4 cases per 100,000 population (95% UI 32.0 to 45.2) in 2019. Death rates per 100,000 population attributable to high SBP declined significantly over time for both sexes from 1990 (155.6 cases; 95% UI 131.2 to 177.0) to approximately one third in 2019 (53.8 cases; 95% UI 43.4 to 64.4). Conclusion: Over the past three decades, the burden of HHD and high SBP in Australia reduced, but remains relatively high, particularly HHD. The contribution of HHD and high SBP to mortality, DALYs, and YLLs reduced significantly from 1990 to 2019. Efforts to identify people with high blood pressure early and population level measures for improving the management of blood pressure should be a priority for Australia.