May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Chile

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hypertension is a significant public health issue in Chile, with a high prevalence reported in national surveys.
• Existing screening programs are limited, necessitating initiatives like May Measurement Month (MMM) to raise awareness and assess blood pressure (BP) control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of hypertension and awareness of the condition in a large Chilean population sample.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current hypertension management and identify individuals needing further intervention through a nationwide screening campaign.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted in May 2018 across 94 sites in Chile, screening 9344 volunteers aged 18 years and older.
• Blood pressure measurements and hypertension diagnosis followed the established May Measurement Month protocol, defining hypertension as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or current antihypertensive medication use.

Main Results:

• The study identified a hypertension prevalence of 29.2% in the screened population.
• Awareness of hypertension was 64.0%, with 56.1% of all hypertensive individuals receiving treatment. Notably, 15.3% of untreated participants were identified as potential hypertensives.
• Among those aware of their diagnosis, 87.7% were on medication, but only 56.1% of all hypertensives achieved controlled blood pressure.

Conclusions:

• May Measurement Month 2018 revealed a high prevalence of hypertension in Chile, with a substantial proportion of individuals either untreated or with uncontrolled blood pressure.
• The findings underscore the potential utility of systematic screening programs to enhance hypertension detection and management, ultimately improving cardiovascular health outcomes in the Chilean population.