Kingston, Jamaica, October 13, 2026 (PAHO) – Nearly three in every ten adults in the Cayman Islands are living with high blood pressure. Yet only 27.2 percent have been diagnosed and are successfully managing their condition with medication. The remaining 72.8 percent are undiagnosed, untreated, or not effectively treated, a largely hidden burden that can place individuals, families, and the health system at serious risk.
For many people, high blood pressure is discovered only during a routine checkup. But one person’s reading cannot reveal the scale of the challenge across an entire country. Protecting heart health therefore begins not only with screening more people, but also with understanding who is affected, who is being reached by care, and where critical gaps remain.
To bring that wider picture into focus, the Cayman Islands, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization, conducted the World Health Organization’s STEPwise survey, known as STEPS, in 2023. By measuring key health indicators, including blood pressure and blood glucose, among adults, the survey revealed the cardiovascular risks facing the population and the gaps that people encounter across the health system.
The findings made one message clear: stronger action on cardiovascular health was urgently needed. Guided by this evidence, the Cayman Islands introduced HEARTS in the Americas, an initiative that strengthens cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment in primary health care. HEARTS brings proven approaches into everyday care, from reliable access to essential medicines and team-based services to practical tools that track whether patients are achieving better blood pressure control. By closing the gaps between diagnosis, treatment, and effective control, the initiative supports the Cayman Islands’ commitment to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases by one-third by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and global health targets.
Turning HEARTS from an initiative into better care for patients has required collaboration across the health system. A Technical Working Group was established to guide implementation. In September 2025, experts from the Pan American Health Organization visited the Cayman Islands to work alongside health professionals, strengthening their capacity to apply the HEARTS approach. The team also completed an initial assessment to establish a foundation for monitoring implementation and measuring progress.
For patients, one of the most important advances is the development of standardized protocols for managing hypertension. These protocols give doctors and nurses a clear, consistent pathway based on proven methods. They include combination antihypertensive treatment to support faster blood pressure control, often within months, while ensuring that each person’s care begins with an assessment of their individual cardiovascular risk.
“For the wider health system, HEARTS will help create a more coordinated and proactive model of care that focuses on prevention and long-term health outcomes. Over time, we expect the programme to reduce avoidable illness, improve quality of life, and lessen the burden of cardiovascular disease on individuals, families, and healthcare services across the Cayman Islands,” said Ms. Felicia McLean, HEARTS Focal Point in the Cayman Islands and Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability. “By addressing cardiovascular risk factors at both the individual and population levels, these programmes will help reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke in the Cayman Islands and improve the overall health of our communities.”
The promise of HEARTS is both practical and personal: finding high blood pressure earlier, helping people receive effective treatment, and preventing the heart attacks and strokes that can change lives without warning. STEPS showed where the Cayman Islands stood; HEARTS is helping chart the way forward. Together, they are transforming health data into coordinated action and coordinated action into longer, healthier lives for people across the Cayman Islands.
