People with hypertension and high cholesterol should take their medication regularly as prescribed; never stop on their own.

12. People with hypertension and high cholesterol should take their medication regularly as prescribed; never stop on their own.

Cost: Generic hypertension drugs and statins cost only a few to several dozen yuan per month. They’re taken once daily, so they don’t require much time or effort. The real challenge is sticking to them long-term — once people feel better, they often stop taking them.

In plain terms: For every 10 mmHg drop in blood pressure, mortality decreases by roughly 13%, while stroke risk drops by about 27%. Each 1.0 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol achieved by statins lowers mortality by roughly 10%. Those who take their medication as directed have a 30% to 45% lower risk of death compared to those who frequently miss doses.

Benefit: Pooled data from multiple randomized controlled trials show that a 10 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure (the “high” number in a blood pressure reading) lowers mortality by about 13% (RR 0.87) and major cardiovascular events by roughly 20% (RR 0.80). Stroke risk drops by around 27% (RR 0.73), while heart failure risk decreases by about 28% (RR 0.72). Statins also reduce LDL cholesterol; each 1.0 mmol/L drop lowers mortality by roughly 10% (RR 0.90) and major vascular events by about 22% (RR 0.78). Observational studies further indicate that patients who adhere to prescribed treatment regimens (≥80% compliance) enjoy significantly lower mortality rates: statin adherence reduces risk by about 45% (RR 0.55), while adherence to antihypertensive therapy lowers risk by roughly 29% (RR 0.71).

Evidence grade: A

Sources: Ettehad D et al. (2016). Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. <https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01225-8>; Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration (2010). Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170 000 participants in 26 randomised trials. Lancet. <https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61350-5>; Chowdhury R et al. (2013). Adherence to cardiovascular therapy: a meta-analysis of prevalence and clinical consequences. European Heart Journal. <https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/eht295>

Notes: Only individuals deemed by doctors to need medication should follow this advice; healthy people do not require it. The figures regarding “consistent medication use” stem from observational data; those who stick to treatment tend to be more disciplined overall, which may inflate perceived benefits. The mortality reductions linked to blood pressure control and statins are more firmly supported by randomized trials than any potential benefits of tighter blood glucose control.