RESUMO
Hypertension continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the industrialized world, with a high level of unawareness and unacceptably poor control rates. Therefore, the Argentinian Society of Hypertension, in association with the May Measurement Month (MMM) charity, implemented an awareness campaign during May 2021. A voluntary cross-sectional survey was carried out during the month of May 2021 in public spaces and health centres across 29 cities in Argentina. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140â mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90â mmHg based on the mean of the second and third of three BP measurements or in those volunteers on treatment for high BP. Statistical analysis including multiple imputation followed the MMM protocol. A total of 26 070 individuals (average age 53.4 years, 14 816 women and 11 254 men) were evaluated. The age- and sex-standardized mean BP was 125.1/77.6â mmHg. Of all participants, 54.4% had hypertension. Although 79.8% of the hypertensive participants were aware of their condition and 76.9% were on antihypertensive treatment, only 42.5% of all individuals with hypertension had their BP controlled (<140/90â mmHg). Of those on antihypertensive medication, 55.3% were controlled. The low level of hypertension control highlights the critical need for community-based prevention strategies to increase the awareness and control of hypertension, thereby reducing the enormous health burden attributed to this condition.
RESUMO
Hypertension continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the industrialized world, with a high level of unawareness and unacceptably poor control. Therefore, the Argentinian Society of Hypertension, in agreement with the May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative of the International Society of Hypertension, implemented for the second consecutive year an educational campaign during the month of May 2018. A volunteer cross-sectional survey was carried out in public spaces and health centres during the month of May 2018 across 33 cities in Argentina. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg based on the mean of the 2nd and 3rd of three consecutive BP measurements, or in those on treatment for high BP. Statistical analysis including multiple imputation followed the MMM protocol. A total of 70 418 individuals were screened during MMM18, after excluding those under 18 years old. Of the total, 43.8% of participants were classified as hypertensive, 77.7% were aware of their diagnosis, 69.1% were on pharmacological treatment, and 38.7% were controlled. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 56.0% were controlled. It is necessary to reinforce strategies not only to increase the awareness and control of hypertension but also to identify the population groups, in which these strategies would have the greatest impact, helping to reduce the enormous health burden attributed to hypertension.