HYPERTENSION is a serious problem in the country, with three in 10 Malaysians having high blood pressure, but only half of them being aware that they have this "silent" condition.
The Malaysian Renal Nerve Denervation Working Group (MyRDN), a collaboration between the Malaysia Society of Hypertension and the National Heart Association of Malaysia, previewed its consensus paper on renal denervation publicly for the first time recently.
The paper provides recommendations and guidelines for healthcare professionals with regards to the use of renal denervation in the treatment of people with hypertension.
MyRDN co-chair and immediate past president of the Malaysia Society of Hypertension, Professor Datin Dr Chia Yook Chin, says that while 90 per cent of those who are aware they have hypertension are on medication, only half have their blood pressure under proper control.
"This means that around 1.4 million Malaysians have uncontrolled high blood pressure – whether it's because they are unaware of their condition or are not on optimal therapy – exposing them to complications like heart attacks, stroke and other heart diseases."
Dr Chia adds that renal denervation may help in treating certain types of hypertensive patients, for example, those who have resistant hypertension, are consistently unable to adhere to their medication despite counselling and advice, or are on multiple medications for various comorbid diseases.
MyRDN co-chair and council member of the National Heart Association of Malaysia, Dr Ong Tiong Kiam, says ideally, renal denervation should be offered early in the treatment of patients who fit the recommended criteria for the procedure. However, lifestyle modification and antihypertensive drugs are still the mainstays of treating high blood pressure.
