A nationwide joint study on hypertension (high blood pressure)
intervention was launched in Beijing over the weekend as the number
of people diagnosed with the nation's most common chronic disease
continues to soar.
Known as "CHIEF" (Chinese Hypertension Intervention Efficacy
Study), the study, headed by the Beijing-based Fuwai Hospital, will
be the largest of its kind in China, involving more than 150
medical institutions specializing in hypertension treatment and
research.
"As a pillar program initiated by the Ministry of Health and the
Ministry of Technology, the study aims to work out a comprehensive
way to efficiently contain hypertension," Professor Hu Shousheng,
president of Fuwai Hospital, said while addressing the audience at
the launch ceremony.
The number of Chinese suffering from high blood pressure has
increased 31 percent over the past decade to 160 million, according
to statistics from the Ministry of Health.
Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to strokes, heart attacks,
heart failure and kidney failure. This is why high blood pressure
is often called the "silent killer", medical experts said.
Running over five years, the study will monitor 13,000 high
blood pressure patients, in terms of their clinical care, at
collaborating hospitals and special research organizations
nationwide.
In addition, because many people have high blood pressure for
years but show no symptoms, a community-based detection and
intervention scheme will also be conducted using 50,000 people,
Professor Liu Lisheng, the president of the World Hypertension
League and head of the study's academic research, said.
"Thanks to the great efforts by health workers involved and
Dawnrays Pharmaceutical (Holdings) Ltd, which provides free
medicine, the study will definitely run smoothly," Liu said, urging
more enterprises to take on their social responsibilities as well
as making profits.
Gao Yi, the president of Dawnrays in Suzhou, in east China's Jiangsu Province, said it was his company's
responsibility to support the government-backed plan and help push
forward the scientific research and innovation.
(China Daily April 2, 2007)