Patients are missing out on the cardiovascular benefits of blood pressure-lowering medicines, say researchers

The true impact of missing doses of blood pressure-lowering medication will be demonstrated in a presentation at ESC Congress 2026. Approximately 1.4 billion adults worldwide ages 30–79 are estimated to have high blood pressure (hypertension), one of the most significant risk factors for disease burden. Despite the proven benefits of blood pressure-lowering medication in reducing cardiovascular events, around half of patients do not take medication as prescribed.