Key result
Opportunistic screening in Brazil reveals ~32% hypertension prevalence, with only ~35% achieving blood pressure control.
Why the study?
The May Measurement Month campaign aimed to raise awareness of raised blood pressure and identify untreated or inadequately treated hypertension in Brazil.
Cross-Sectional (n=6,025)
Yes
A large-scale opportunistic screening campaign in Brazil highlighted a high prevalence of hypertension (31.5%) with poor overall control rates (35.1%), underscoring the need for improved detection and management public policies.
Highlights untreated hypertension burden in Brazil; leaves open whether expanded screening improves control.
The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was conducted in Brazil in 2023 to raise awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Adults aged ≥ 18 years were recruited through convenience sampling collected in all Brazilian states. 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 ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or being on BP-lowering medication. Controlled BP was defined as being on BP-lowering medication with a BP <140/90 mmHg. Multiple imputation was used to estimate missing BP readings. In total, 6025 were screened, with a mean age of 39.5 years and 56.2% of whom were female. Of all participants, 1896 (31.5%) had hypertension, of whom 1235 (65.1%) were aware, and 1167 (61.6%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 665 (57.0%) had controlled BP, and of all participants with hypertension, 35.1% had controlled BP. The MMM campaign in Brazil identified a substantial number of participants with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. This reinforces the importance of public policies focused on effectively detecting snf controlling hypertension and reducing the social and economic impact of this condition.
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Cestário et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=6,025). Opportunistic blood pressure screening was evaluated on Hypertension prevalence and control (systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or on BP-lowering medication). Opportunistic blood pressure screening in Brazil found a 31.5% prevalence of hypertension, among whom 65.1% were aware of their condition and only 35.1% had controlled blood pressure.
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