Related Experiment Videos
May Measurement Month 2017: an analysis of blood pressure screening results in Cote d'Ivoire-Sub-Saharan Africa
Kramoh Kouadio Euloge1, Ekoua Daniel1, Abina Audrey1
1Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, BP 206 Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; and.
Insights
May Measurement Month (MMM) screened over 24,000 people in Cote d'Ivoire. The study found that 20.4% of participants had high blood pressure (hypertension), with many cases undiagnosed or undertreated.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a significant global health issue, causing over 10 million deaths annually.
- In Cote d'Ivoire, hypertension is the primary risk factor for stroke and myocardial infarction.
- The International Society of Hypertension's May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative addresses the lack of worldwide BP screening programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To raise awareness of high blood pressure in Cote d'Ivoire.
- To identify undiagnosed and inadequately treated hypertension cases through a large-scale screening campaign.
- To assess the prevalence of hypertension within the adult population of Cote d'Ivoire.
Main Methods:
- An opportunistic cross-sectional survey conducted in May 2017, following the standard MMM17 protocol.
- BP measurements were taken from volunteers aged 18 and above at 55 diverse urban sites.
- Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or current anti-hypertensive medication use.
Main Results:
- A total of 24,563 individuals were screened, with a mean age of 37 years.
- After statistical adjustments, 20.4% of the screened population had hypertension.
- Among those on medication, 54.4% had uncontrolled BP, highlighting treatment gaps.
Conclusions:
- May Measurement Month 2017 represented the largest BP screening campaign in Cote d'Ivoire to date.
- The campaign successfully identified numerous individuals with undiagnosed or poorly managed hypertension.
- Continued implementation of MMM is recommended to help mitigate the public health burden of elevated blood pressure.
Abstract:
Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. In Cote d'Ivoire, high BP is the first risk factor for stroke and myocardial infarction. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative of the International Society of Hypertension aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017. BP measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM17 protocol. A Coordinators Team was created. All doctors in cardiology training of Abidjan Institute of Cardiology (N = 72) were briefed to carry out the MMM study as investigators, and 55 sites were created. These were major urban transport stations, supermarkets and markets, and churches. BP was calculated from the mean of the 2nd and 3rd readings, and hypertension was defined as a systolic BP of at least 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP of at least 90 mmHg or being on BP-lowering treatment. We screened 24 563 individuals during MMM17, with mean age of 37 years. After multiple imputations, 5015 (20.4%) had hypertension. Of individuals not receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 3943 (16.8%) were hypertensive. Of individuals receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 583 (54.4%) had uncontrolled BP. MMM17 was the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Cote d'Ivoire. MMM allowed us to identify many undiagnosed and inadequately treated hypertension cases and could usefully lower the burden attributed to increased BP. MMM should be continued.