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May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Tunisia
Sina Haj Amor1,2, Thomas Beaney3,4, Olfa Saidi5
1Regional Directorate of Health of Tunis, Carthage Health District, Rue Ibn El haythem, 2045 Tunis, Tunisia.
Insights
A May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign in Tunisia found high hypertension prevalence (38.1%) among adults. Urgent interventions are needed to address this significant cardiovascular risk factor.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hypertension is a primary cardiovascular risk factor globally.
- Understanding hypertension's prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in Tunisia.
- To raise public awareness about hypertension as part of the May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional screening campaign involving 11,271 adult volunteers in Tunisia.
- Standardized blood pressure (BP) measurements and interviews to collect data on medical history and risk factors.
- Hypertension defined as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg or current antihypertensive medication.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of hypertension was 38.1% among screened adults.
- Of those with hypertension, 72.5% were aware of their diagnosis, and 67.5% were receiving treatment.
- Blood pressure control was achieved in only 38.2% of hypertensive individuals.
Conclusions:
- Hypertension poses a significant public health challenge in Tunisia.
- There is a critical need for comprehensive, population-based intervention programs to manage hypertension effectively.
- Improving hypertension awareness, treatment, and control is essential to reduce cardiovascular disease burden.
Abstract:
We performed a May Measurement Month (MMM) screening campaign among adult volunteers aged 18 years old and over in Tunisia. The objective was to raise awareness, and to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, one of the main cardiovascular risk factors. Following the MMM protocol, three blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken by physicians and standard interviewing procedures were used to record medical history, socio-demographic, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg or treatment with antihypertensive medication. From 11 271 adults screened, the prevalence of hypertension was 38.1%. Among those with hypertension, 72.5% were aware of their diagnosis, and 67.5% were treated. BP control was achieved in only 38.2% of all those with hypertension. The study highlights the magnitude of hypertension in Tunisia. There is an urgent need for implementing a comprehensive integrated population-based intervention programme to ameliorate the growing problem of hypertension.
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