MAY MEASUREMENT MONTH 2023: RESULTS FROM THE GLOBAL BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING CAMPAIGN

Objective: May Measurement Month (MMM) is an annual global blood pressure (BP) screening campaign aimed at raising BP awareness. In this analysis, we present the major results of the 2023 campaign. Design and method: Adults (18+ years) were screened opportunistically in 72 countries using a single standardised protocol. Three seated BP measurements were taken, and a questionnaire was administered collecting information including demographics, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, use of BP-lowering medication, and lifestyle/dietary risk factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP >/=140 mmHg, and/or a diastolic BP >/=90 mmHg (based on the mean of the second and third BP readings), or taking BP-lowering medication. Treatment-resistant hypertension was defined as uncontrolled BP (>/= 140/90 mmHg) while taking 3+ BP-lowering medications or controlled BP while taking 4+ medications. Results: Of the 718,508 total participants screened during MMM23, 277,849 (38.7%) were classified as hypertensive, of whom 178,897 (64.4%) were aware they had hypertension, 171,814 (61.8%) reported taking BP-lowering medication, 101,982 (36.7%) had BP controlled to <140/90 mmHg, and 47,760 (17.2%) to <130/80 mmHg. Of those on treatment, 59.4% were controlled to <140/90 mmHg and 27.8% to <130/80 mmHg, and 53.8%, 33.6% and 12.6% were on 1, 2 or 3+ medication classes, respectively. Treatment-resistant hypertension affected 10,602 (6.2%) of treated participants. A quarter (24.5%) of all participants and 63.3% of hypertensive participants had untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. Of those with hypertension, 33.8% were overweight (BMI 25 to <30 kg/m2) and 35.7% were obese (BMI >29 kg/m2). Of the 51,974 (7.2%) participants with self-reported diabetes, 68.5% had co-existing hypertension, rising to 72.3% if also obese. Of 6,939 (1.0%) participants with self-reported kidney failure, 69.0% had hypertension, 37.5% had diabetes and 30.6% had both. Of 9,527 (1.3%) with heart failure, 75.6% had hypertension and 5.0% had hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure. Conclusions: The latest MMM campaign confirms the high prevalence of untreated or inadequately treated hypertension worldwide, with substantial co-existence of diabetes, kidney failure, heart failure, and obesity. Amongst screenees taking BP-lowering medications, three quarters (72.2%) were inadequately controlled to contemporary targets (<130/80 mmHg).