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

Abstract

The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was conducted in India in 2023 to raise awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Adults aged ≥18 years were recruited through convenience sampling from villages, door-to-door visits, public locations, community centres, urban areas, slum communities, rural health posts, colleges, non-governmental organisation offices and centres, and urban health camps. Three seated BP readings were taken in 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 missing BP readings. In total, 11,958 were screened, with a mean age of 47.8 years and 59.9% were female. Of all participants, 3,420 (28.6%) had hypertension, of whom 1,200 (35.1%) were aware, and 734 (21.5%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 459 (62.5%) had controlled BP, and of all participants with hypertension, 13.4% had controlled BP. The MMM campaign in India identified a substantial number of participants with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. These findings highlight the urgent need for strengthened community-based screening, follow up, and awareness programs to improve early detection and initiation and adherence to treatment. Integrating regular BP checks-in primary healthcare and public health outreach activities could significantly reduce the growing burden of hypertension and its associated complication in the Indian population.