May Measurement Month 2017-2019: A Community-Wide Opportunistic Blood Pressure Screening Campaign in Hong Kong

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hypertension is a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
• Early detection and management of hypertension are critical for improving patient outcomes.
• May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign for synchronized blood pressure screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of hypertension and undiagnosed cases in Hong Kong adults.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign in identifying hypertension.
• To determine the control status of hypertension among diagnosed individuals.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 3224 Hong Kong adults screened between 2017-2019.
• Blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken using automated sphygmomanometers at community pharmacies and a university campus.
• Participants completed questionnaires on demographics, medical, and social history.

Main Results:

• The average BP was 139.8/75.5 mmHg.
• A hypertension prevalence of 70.8% was observed, with 27.8% of cases being previously undiagnosed.
• Among those with diagnosed hypertension, 61.1% had uncontrolled BP.

Conclusions:

• The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign effectively identified a substantial number of individuals with untreated or uncontrolled hypertension.
• Regular blood pressure monitoring and prompt follow-up are essential for managing hypertension in the population.
• Community-based screening initiatives like MMM play a vital role in public health by detecting undiagnosed hypertension.