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. 2021 May 20;23(Suppl B):B82-B85.
doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/suab036. eCollection 2021 May.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Jamaica

Magdalene Nwokocha  1 , Thomas Beaney  2 , Cheryl Holder  3 , Karen Thaxter Nesbeth  4 , Natalie Whylie  5 , Joan Leitch  6 , Trevor Ferguson  7 , Mark Hosang  7 , Vincent Riley  7 , Adedamola Soyibo  7 , Daniel Oshi  8 , Paul Brown  4 , Tomlin Paul  8 , Rainford Wilks  7 , Neil R Poulter  2 , Chukwuemeka Nwokocha  4
Affiliations

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Jamaica

Magdalene Nwokocha et al. Eur Heart J Suppl. .

Abstract

There is evidence of an elevated risk of hypertension in populations that are primarily of African origin. Hypertension is predominantly asymptomatic, necessitating increased awareness. May Measurement Month was a descriptive, population-based, cross-sectional study of blood pressure (BP) screening and awareness campaign conducted in 2019 in a sample of 2550 participants (≥18 years) in Jamaica. In total, 1791 (70.2%) of the participants were female, 756 (29.6%) were male, with an average age of 49.3 years, and a body mass index (kg/m2) of 28.5 (6.2). Of all participants, 2289 (89.8%) were black and 154 (6.0%) were of mixed races. Twenty-two (0.9%) had never had their BP measured, whereas 354 (13.9%) had their measurements more than a year ago, and 2129 (83.5%) had measured within the year. Of all 2550 participants, 1055 (41.4%) had hypertension, 69.9% of our subjects with hypertension were aware, whereas only 62.5% were on antihypertensive medication and 27.8% had controlled BP (systolic <140 mmHg and diastolic BP <90 mmHg). Of 660 participants on antihypertensive medication, 44.4% had controlled BP. Two hundred and seventy-six (15.4%) of women reported hypertension in a previous pregnancy. Hypertension with previous pregnancy was positively correlated with current elevation. These results suggest a high rate of raised BP among community dwellers whose hypertension had not been previously diagnosed by a health professional and warrant proactive approaches that promote community-based awareness, and regular measurements.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Control; Hypertension; Jamaica; Screening; Treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Difference in mean blood pressure in those with each comorbidity compared with those without from linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and antihypertensive medication (antihypertensive medication adjusted for age and sex alone).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Difference in mean blood pressure in those with each risk factor compared with those without from linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and antihypertensive medication (pregnancy adjusted for age and antihypertensive medication alone) (*Compared with ‘never/rarely’ as baseline, ┼Pregnancy adjusted for age and antihypertensive medication alone).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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