Arterial hypertension is a major public health issue because it affects more than 1.1 billion patients worldwide [1], and represents a very important risk factor for the development of cardiac, cerebrovascular, and chronic kidney disease as well as for dementia and premature mortality [2]. However, the awareness of the disease is limited, and only a fraction of the hypertensive patients are treated, the rate being lower in low as compared to high income countries [3]. In addition, an effective blood pressure (BP) reduction by antihypertensive treatment is rare and only a small proportion of the hypertensive population achieves BP control worldwide [4].
