The global hypertension care cascade in May Measurement Month 2023: a cross-sectional opportunistic blood pressure screening campaign
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background Raised blood pressure (BP) is the leading contributor to global morbidity and mortality. May Measurement Month (MMM) is an annual global BP screening campaign aimed at raising hypertension awareness.
Methods In 2023, volunteers ≥18 years were opportunistically recruited using convenience sampling at screening sites in 70 countries completing three sitting BP measurements and a questionnaire on demographics, clinical, and lifestyle information. Raised BP was defined as systolic BP ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic ≥90mmHg (average of second and third readings). Hypertension was defined as a raised BP, and/or taking BP-lowering medication.
Findings Of 673,304 participants screened (mean age: 47.5 [±17.3] years, 54.2% female), 81.3% were from lower- or middle-income countries and 95,920 (14.2%) had never previously had their BP measured. Of 258,802 participants with hypertension (33.6% of males, 37.3% of females), 63.1% were aware, 60.4% treated, 34.6% controlled to <140/90mmHg, and 15.7% to <130/80mmHg. Awareness, treatment, and control rates were all higher among females. Of 156,218 taking BP-lowering medication, 57.3% were controlled to <140/90mmHg and 26.1% to 130/80mmHg, with 51.6% using monotherapy. 169,272 participants had untreated or inadequately treated hypertension (25.1% of those surveyed; 65.4% of participants with hypertension). Of those with BMI ≥25kgm2, a history of diabetes, kidney and/or heart failure, 44.8%, 68.8%, 68.8%, 76.2% had hypertension, respectively.
Interpretation One-quarter of MMM23 participants had untreated or inadequately treated hypertension reflecting the high global burden and low rates of awareness. Opportunistic MMM screening provides a low-cost, scalable route to increase awareness and detection of raised BP.
Funding Servier, Omron, and Medtronic.
Methods In 2023, volunteers ≥18 years were opportunistically recruited using convenience sampling at screening sites in 70 countries completing three sitting BP measurements and a questionnaire on demographics, clinical, and lifestyle information. Raised BP was defined as systolic BP ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic ≥90mmHg (average of second and third readings). Hypertension was defined as a raised BP, and/or taking BP-lowering medication.
Findings Of 673,304 participants screened (mean age: 47.5 [±17.3] years, 54.2% female), 81.3% were from lower- or middle-income countries and 95,920 (14.2%) had never previously had their BP measured. Of 258,802 participants with hypertension (33.6% of males, 37.3% of females), 63.1% were aware, 60.4% treated, 34.6% controlled to <140/90mmHg, and 15.7% to <130/80mmHg. Awareness, treatment, and control rates were all higher among females. Of 156,218 taking BP-lowering medication, 57.3% were controlled to <140/90mmHg and 26.1% to 130/80mmHg, with 51.6% using monotherapy. 169,272 participants had untreated or inadequately treated hypertension (25.1% of those surveyed; 65.4% of participants with hypertension). Of those with BMI ≥25kgm2, a history of diabetes, kidney and/or heart failure, 44.8%, 68.8%, 68.8%, 76.2% had hypertension, respectively.
Interpretation One-quarter of MMM23 participants had untreated or inadequately treated hypertension reflecting the high global burden and low rates of awareness. Opportunistic MMM screening provides a low-cost, scalable route to increase awareness and detection of raised BP.
Funding Servier, Omron, and Medtronic.
Date Acceptance
2026-08-13
Citation
The Lancet Global Health
ISSN
2572-116X
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
The Lancet Global Health
Copyright Statement
Copyright This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the Version of Record (VoR) will be available on immediate open access.
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Publication Status
Accepted