TY - JOUR
T1 - May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Albania
AU - Qirjako, G.
AU - Mone, I.
AU - Beaney, T.
AU - Xia, X.
AU - Dracini, X.
AU - Poulter, N.R.
AU - Fico, A.
AU - Ylli, A.
AU - Cumashi, R.
AU - Roshi, E.
AU - Burazeri, G.
PY - 2021/5/1
Y1 - 2021/5/1
N2 - This article discusses the results of the May Measurement Month (MMM) 2019 campaign, which contributed to a third round of MMM hypertension screening campaigns carried out in Albania, a transitional country in the Western Balkans. The hypertension screening campaign in Albania was carried out during the period 1-31 May 2019 in 30 sites in many districts of the country. Overall, 19 154 participants aged >= 18years were included (approximately 68% of these were women), with an overall mean age of 47.0 +/- 15.3years. Blood pressure (BP) was measured with OMRON sphygmomanometers (Omron Healthcare, Kyoto, Japan). Hypertension was defined as systolic BP >= 140mmHg, or diastolic BP >= 90mmHg, or on treatment for hypertension. Self-reported data consisted of height and weight, pre-existing conditions, including smoking status and alcohol consumption. Overall, the proportion of participants with hypertension was 38.6%. Less than two-thirds (64.7%) of hypertensive individuals were aware of their condition. Also, less than half (48.3%) of participants on antihypertensive medication had controlled BP (<140/90mmHg). The most sizable correlations of high BP were with known hypertension status, use of antihypertensive medication, and obesity. The MMM campaign contributes to routine hypertension screening in Albania. Hence, health professionals and policymakers in Albania should act on the findings of MMM screening campaigns and continue its support as a valuable tool for early detection of hypertension in the general population.
AB - This article discusses the results of the May Measurement Month (MMM) 2019 campaign, which contributed to a third round of MMM hypertension screening campaigns carried out in Albania, a transitional country in the Western Balkans. The hypertension screening campaign in Albania was carried out during the period 1-31 May 2019 in 30 sites in many districts of the country. Overall, 19 154 participants aged >= 18years were included (approximately 68% of these were women), with an overall mean age of 47.0 +/- 15.3years. Blood pressure (BP) was measured with OMRON sphygmomanometers (Omron Healthcare, Kyoto, Japan). Hypertension was defined as systolic BP >= 140mmHg, or diastolic BP >= 90mmHg, or on treatment for hypertension. Self-reported data consisted of height and weight, pre-existing conditions, including smoking status and alcohol consumption. Overall, the proportion of participants with hypertension was 38.6%. Less than two-thirds (64.7%) of hypertensive individuals were aware of their condition. Also, less than half (48.3%) of participants on antihypertensive medication had controlled BP (<140/90mmHg). The most sizable correlations of high BP were with known hypertension status, use of antihypertensive medication, and obesity. The MMM campaign contributes to routine hypertension screening in Albania. Hence, health professionals and policymakers in Albania should act on the findings of MMM screening campaigns and continue its support as a valuable tool for early detection of hypertension in the general population.
KW - Albania
KW - Blood pressure
KW - Control
KW - Hypertension
KW - Screening
KW - Treatment
U2 - 10.1093/eurheartj/suab015
DO - 10.1093/eurheartj/suab015
M3 - Article
C2 - 34733123
VL - 23
SP - B6-B8
JO - European Heart Journal Supplements
JF - European Heart Journal Supplements
SN - 1520-765X
IS - B
ER -