May Measurement Month 2022: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Libya

Hypertension is a major global health problem. In Libya, hypertension affects a large portion of the population, but many individuals are unaware of their condition or are not receiving adequate treatment. The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was carried out in Libya in 2022 with the aim of raising awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Here, we report on the findings of the campaign. Adults aged ≥18 years were opportunistically recruited from health facilities and community sites across Libya. Each participant had three seated BP readings and completed a questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg or being on antihypertensive medication. Controlled BP was defined as BP <140/90 mmHg on medication. Multiple imputation estimated missing BP readings. Among 3088 participants (mean age 46.8 years, 65.3% female), 1249 (40.4%) had hypertension. Of these, 988 (79.1%) were aware of their condition, 959 (76.8%) were on medication, and 565 (58.9%) had controlled BP. Overall, 45.2% of hypertensive participants had controlled BP.The MMM campaign in Libya identified a substantial number of individuals with hypertension, a significant portion of whom had uncontrolled BP. Hypertension management in older adults requires comprehensive strategies, such as enhanced lifestyle interventions, tailored treatment plans, and rigorous monitoring and follow-up, to reduce cardiovascular risks.