Arterial hypertension in Romania: A national call for action through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and adherence

Abstract

Arterial hypertension (HTN) represents the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality in Romania, with a rising prevalence estimated at over 45% among the adult population. Despite some progress in recent years, blood pressure control remains suboptimal, highlighting the urgent need for national intervention. This article proposes an integrated action plan, structured around four key pillars – prevention, diagnosis, treatment and adherence, to significantly improve HTN management in Romania. Drawing on recent national and international epidemiological data, as well as successful models implemented in other countries, the authors outline a set of feasible, evidence-based measures that can be progressively and sustainably implemented. These include population-wide nutritional and behavioural interventions, reorganised screening programmes, establishment of digital registries, standardised treatment protocols with fixed-dose combinations, integration of telemedicine and development of digital tools to improve long-term adherence. In addition, the proposed framework explicitly addresses several Romania-specific implementation gaps. A coordinated implementation of this framework could help achieve blood pressure control rates approaching 70% by 2030, thereby reducing the national cardiovascular burden. Consequently, HTN may become a more manageable condition on a national scale, with long-term positive impact on public health.