What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Hypertension (n=10089). Intervention: Opportunistic blood pressure screening. Primary outcome: Hypertension prevalence.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the prevalence of hypertension and raise awareness through a blood pressure screening campaign.

June 19, 2026Open Access

May Measurement Month 2023 and Hunting the silent killer programme: results of an opportunistic blood pressure screening campaign in Croatia

Key Result

An opportunistic blood pressure screening campaign in Croatia identified hypertension in 58.0% of participants, with only 40.5% of hypertensive individuals having controlled blood pressure.

Key Points

To assess the prevalence of hypertension and raise awareness through a blood pressure screening campaign.
Conducted at 329 community pharmacies and 86 public sites in Croatia.
Three seated blood pressure readings taken per participant along with a demographics questionnaire.
Utilized multiple imputation to estimate missing blood pressure readings.
10,089 adults screened with 5,854 (58.0%) diagnosed with hypertension.
Of those with hypertension, 4,754 (81.2%) were aware of their condition, and 2,373 (51.6%) had controlled blood pressure.
Only 40.5% of all hypertensive participants had controlled blood pressure, highlighting treatment gaps.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=10,089)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

What is the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a community screening campaign in Croatia?

Population

10,089 adults aged ≥18 years (mean age 57.1, 64.9% female) screened for hypertension via convenience sampling at pharmacies and public sites in Croatia.

Exposure

Opportunistic blood pressure screening (three seated BP readings and a questionnaire)

Outcome

Prevalence of hypertension, awareness, treatment, and control rates

An opportunistic screening campaign in Croatia revealed that while awareness and treatment of hypertension are relatively high, overall control remains suboptimal at 40.5%.

Abstract

Abstract The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was conducted in Croatia in 2023 to raise awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Adults aged ≥18 years were recruited through convenience sampling at 329 community pharmacies and 86 various public sites (squares, shopping centres, universities, hospitals). 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 ≥140mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90mmHg or being on BP-lowering medication. Controlled BP was defined as being on BP-lowering medication with a BP 140/90mmHg. Multiple imputation was used to estimate missing BP readings. In total, 10,089 were screened, with a mean age of 57.1 years and 64.9% were female. Of all participants, 5,854 (58.0%) had hypertension, of whom 4,754 (81.2%) were aware, and 45,96 (78.5%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 2,373 (51.6%) had controlled BP, and of all participants with hypertension, 40.5% had controlled BP. The MMM campaign in Croatia identified a substantial number of participants with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension.

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