Descriptive analysis of hypertension in Saudi Arabia: a national population health perspective (hypertension in Saudi Arabia)

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most significant public health challenges in Saudi Arabia, driven by ageing, lifestyle changes and rising metabolic risk factors. Although the prevalence of HTN is increasing in Saudi Arabia, there have been limited studies and updates of national-level numbers. Objective: This study provides a national-level descriptive overview of high blood pressure in Saudi Arabia using data from the Population Health Observatory (PHO). These data include prevalence, demographics and characteristics, comorbidities and risk and healthcare utilisation. Methods: A retrospective observational study using data from the PHO from 2015 to 2025 was conducted, including all 1.7 million diagnosed individuals across all regions of Saudi Arabia. Descriptive analyses were performed for the variables. Results: The analysis revealed 1,720,786 hypertensive patients in Saudi Arabia. The highest burden falls on males, accounting for 58.2% of hypertensive patients. Of those males, the majority were aged 50-59 years. Most patients were obese or overweight (29.4% and 21.8%, respectively). The majority of the patients had a rising risk profile, and most of them visited outpatient clinics (88.9%). Conclusion: HTN remains a major public health concern in Saudi Arabia. The data from the PHO highlighted clear results and patterns that can guide interventions and policymakers in strengthening prevention and improving health promotion and control.