May Measurement Month 2023: results of an opportunistic blood pressure screening campaign in Mongolia

Abstract The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was conducted in Mongolia in 2023 to raise awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Adults aged ≥18 years were recruited through convenience sampling at primary health care centres in Ulaanbaatar. Three seated BP readings were taken from each participant, and a questionnaire collected information on demographics, lifestyle factors and comorbidities. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90mmHg or being on BP-lowering medication. Controlled BP was defined as being on BP-lowering medication with a BP <140/90mmHg. Multiple imputation was used to estimate one or two missing BP readings. In total, 5,413 participants were screened, with a mean age of 46.8 years; 55.6% were female. Of all participants, 2,302 (42.5%) had hypertension, of whom 1,920 (83.4%) were aware and 1,896 (82.4%) were on antihypertensive medication. Among those on antihypertensive medication, 976 (51.5%) had a BP controlled to <140/90mmHg, and of all participants with hypertension, 42.4% had controlled BP. MMM 2023 in Mongolia identified substantial proportions of untreated and particularly, inadequately controlled hypertension, reinforcing the need for improved screening and treatment strategies at the national level.