May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Australia

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease worldwide.
• The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign aims to increase global awareness of hypertension and its associated risks.
• Standardized BP screening and data collection are crucial for understanding population-level BP control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of hypertension and awareness of the condition among Australian adults during the May Measurement Month (MMM) 2019 campaign.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of antihypertensive medication in controlling BP in the Australian population.
• To highlight the importance of standardized BP measurement campaigns for public health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Opportunistic sampling recruited 2877 adults (≥18 years) across Australian states in May 2019.
• Three standardized BP readings were taken per participant; lifestyle factors and comorbidities were recorded.
• Hypertension was defined using the MMM protocol (systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg) or antihypertensive medication use.

Main Results:

• 31.3% of participants had hypertension. Of these, only 50.5% were aware of their condition.
• Among those on antihypertensive medication (40.6% of hypertensive participants), 45.7% had inadequately controlled BP (<140/90 mmHg).
• Approximately 74% of treated patients received single-drug therapy, indicating potential undertreatment or need for combination therapy.

Conclusions:

• The May Measurement Month campaign effectively gathered standardized BP data and raised awareness in Australia.
• BP control rates in Australia remain unacceptably low, with a significant proportion of hypertensive individuals unaware of their condition or inadequately treated.
• Further public health interventions are needed to improve hypertension detection and management in Australia.