International Society of Hypertension

ISH part of Pakistan Hypertension League Annual Meeting 2025

19 Oct 2025: The ISH was pleased to be part of the Pakistan Hypertension League (PHL) annual conference from 19–21 September 2025 in Lahore, Pakistan.

ISH activities at the PHL meeting included scientific sessions, young investigator activities, outreach booths, and membership drives.

ISH Scientific Session: ‘Hypertension beyond borders’

This session brought together global experts who presented cutting-edge developments in hypertension research and clinical practice:

George Stergiou (President, ISH; Greece) discussed methods and techniques for assessing out-of-office blood pressure, highlighting innovations in home and ambulatory monitoring
Thomas Weber (President, European Society of Hypertension; Austria) delivered an insightful lecture on hypertension practice guidelines, emphasising harmonisation of international standards
Azra Mahmud (Chair, ISH South & Central Asia Regional Advisory Group; Ireland) presented a session entitled, ‘Clash of the Titans: BP Meets AI’, exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into hypertension management
Tazeen H. Jafar (Chair, ISH Research and Education Committee; Singapore) concluded the session entitled, ‘Scaling-up community-based interventions for managing hypertension in South Asia’, outlining scalable models for prevention and control.

CIRCULATE: Inspiring the next generation

The ISH New Investigator Committee, in collaboration with the SACA Regional Advisory Group, organised a session entitled CIRCULATE (Cardiovascular Innovation & Research Communication for Up-and-Coming Leaders: Action, Talent & Engagement). This session provided a platform for early-career researchers to present their work, receive expert feedback, and forge international connections.

A total of 27 abstracts were submitted from across the SACA region. Following peer review by international experts, ten finalists were invited to deliver oral presentations.

Award winners:

First place: Bayan Arif (medical student, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir) -A clinical audit of in-office blood pressure measurement practices against AHA guidelines at a secondary care hospital, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
Second place: Ayesha Azeem (Research Associate, Department of Clinical Research, Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan) -Home blood pressure monitoring in South Asia: prevalence, predictors, and practice patterns.
Third place: Ahmad Khan (Research Associate, Department of Clinical Research, Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan) -Dark hours, dire risks? A systematic review and meta-analysis of nocturnal blood pressure and clinical outcomes.

All finalists received certificates of recognition, and the winners were awarded monetary prizes sponsored by the ISH.

ISH booth and membership drive

The ISH booth attracted considerable attention and served as a hub throughout the conference. It played a central role in promoting ISH membership, strengthening the ISH’s regional network, and encouraging clinicians, researchers, and trainees in Pakistan to become part of the global ISH community.

The booth featured interactive blood pressure measurement demonstrations, offered both as a service to attendees and as a showcase of best practices. In addition, blood pressure awareness materials were distributed among young participants, while hypertension education resources were provided to visitors of all ages.

Looking ahead: strengthening the regional network

The ISH continues to strengthen its partnerships in Pakistan and across the South and Central Asia region through education, mentorship, and collaborative research. The activities at the PHL 2025 conference exemplified how the ISH aims to achieve lasting impact – from early-career capacity building to public engagement and improved hypertension care.

Image: the team which managed the ISH booth at the PHL meeting, from Shalamar institute of Health Sciences: Abdul Rehman Asif, Farwa Ilyas, Rija Khalid (Member of the ISH New Investigator Committee), Azra Mahmud (Chair of the ISH South and Central Asia Regional Advisory Group), Ayesha Azeem and Ahmad Khan.