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

We performed a May Measurement Month (MMM) screening campaign among adult volunteers aged 18 years old and over in Tunisia. The objective was to raise awareness, and to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, one of the main cardiovascular risk factors. Following the MMM protocol, three blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken by physicians and standard interviewing procedures were used to record medical history, socio-demographic, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg or treatment with antihypertensive medication. From 11 271 adults screened, the prevalence of hypertension was 38.1%. Among those with hypertension, 72.5% were aware of their diagnosis, and 67.5% were treated. BP control was achieved in only 38.2% of all those with hypertension. The study highlights the magnitude of hypertension in Tunisia. There is an urgent need for implementing a comprehensive integrated population-based intervention programme to ameliorate the growing problem of hypertension.