RESUMO
Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative organized by the International Society of Hypertension aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide. A similar approach has been used in Italy since 2012, showing inadequate awareness of the consequences of hypertension, a generally increased cardiovascular risk and unsatisfactory BP control in 36% of interviewed individuals. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017, during the joint MMM and World Hypertension Day events. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. Screenings were conducted both in cities and villages, indoor and outdoor, by health personnel. Eighty-five sites, involving approximately 300 investigators, took part in MMM17/World Hypertension Day in Italy, screening 10 076 individuals during a month-long period. After multiple imputation, 3099 participants were found (30.8%) to have high BP levels. This was the biggest opportunistic BP screening in a single time-point ever reported in Italy. A significant proportion of individuals had high BP, although it was not possible to differentiate between known treated hypertensive patients with inadequate BP control and as yet undiagnosed hypertensive individuals. Opportunistic screening can reach a significant number of individuals, being a powerful tool for raising awareness and carrying out BP screening.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the first cause of death and disability in western countries. Despite therapeutic advances, their prevalence is constantly increasing. Detailed assessment of modifiable CV risk factors could improve CVD prevention and management. METHODS: to assess CV risk and hypertension control in a sample of the Italian population, individuals participating to the 2015 "World Hypertension Day" were interviewed in 62sites all over Italy. Blood pressure was measured with a validated auscultatory or oscillometric device and information on demography and prevalence of CVD risk factors was collected by an anonymous questionnaire. An ad-hoc modified version of the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) system was then applied. RESULTS: 8657 recruited individuals (43%women, aged 56.68±16years) were subdivided into 3 age groups (40-49y, 50-59y, 60-69y) for analysis. CV risk was low in 62.4%, 18.0% and 0%; moderate in 26.0%, 66.0% and 62.5%; high/very high in 11.6%, 16% and 37.4%, respectively. Smoking was mainly responsible for increased CV risk among those aged 40-49y (26%smokers), while hypertension was the main factor in the whole sample and in subjects over 50y (36% and 42% respectively). Overall, BP control was unsatisfactory in 36% of individuals (28%, 48% and 31% of those who declared to be normotensive, hypertensive on treatment or unaware of their BP condition, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of the Italian population, CV risk was alarmingly high, irrespectively of age, mostly due to presence of modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, which should thus be better addressed, especially in the youngsters.