By Levy Masiteng
Gauteng recorded 69 125 new hypertension cases in the 2025/26 financial year, including 26 088 among adults aged 18 to 44, as health authorities warned that high blood pressure was increasingly affecting younger residents.
The figures were released by the Gauteng Department of Health in a statement issued on Sunday to mark World Hypertension Day, observed annually on 17 May.
“The Gauteng Department of Health has noted with concern the increasing number of adults under the age of 45 diagnosed with hypertension across the province,” the department said.
“During the 2025/26 financial year, from April 2025 to March 2026, Gauteng recorded 69 125 new hypertension cases across the province. Of these, 26 088 cases were recorded among adults aged between 18 and 44. Contributing factors include unhealthy eating habits, obesity, lack of physical exercise, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.”
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often described as a “silent killer” because many people do not experience symptoms until serious complications develop.
“Hypertension, commonly known as the ‘silent killer’, often develops without noticeable symptoms and remains one of the leading contributors to stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and premature death,” the department said.
The department said routine screening remained critical, especially because many residents may not know their blood pressure status.
“As hypertension frequently presents without symptoms, routine screening remains essential. In a bid to strengthen early detection and prevention efforts, the Department screened approximately 8.7 million adults for hypertension across Gauteng during the 2025/26 financial year.”
Public healthcare facilities in the province provide free blood pressure checks and chronic disease management services for people diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and related conditions.
“In addition, public healthcare facilities provide free blood pressure screening and integrated chronic disease management services for individuals diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and related conditions,” the department said.
The department said its ward-based outreach teams and community health workers would continue providing health education, promoting healthier lifestyles and encouraging residents to undergo free blood pressure screening at public healthcare facilities and during community outreach activities.
“To reduce the risk of hypertension, residents are encouraged to exercise regularly, reduce salt intake, stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Individuals diagnosed with hypertension are advised to take their medication as prescribed by healthcare professionals and adhere to treatment plans to effectively manage the condition.”
Residents on chronic medication were also encouraged to register for the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme, which allows patients to collect medication closer to their homes and reduce waiting times at healthcare facilities.
“Residents can also make use of the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme to collect chronic medication closer to their homes and reduce waiting times at healthcare facilities. Visit your nearest clinic to register on the CCMDD system.”
The World Health Organisation said the 2026 World Hypertension Day theme was “Controlling Hypertension Together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer”. It said the day was aimed at raising global awareness about high blood pressure and promoting prevention, detection and control.
The WHO’s Regional Office for Africa said hypertension was rising rapidly across the region, driven by urbanisation, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco. It said the trend posed a growing threat to health, well-being and sustainable development.
Globally, WHO estimates that 1.4 billion adults aged 30 to 79 had hypertension in 2024, while about 600 million adults with hypertension were unaware they had the condition. It also estimated that only about 320 million adults with hypertension had it under control.
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