May Measurement Month 2017: an analysis of blood pressure screening results in Colombia-Americas

Hipertensión arterial y riesgo cardiovascular

Introducción: la hipertensión arterial es una de las principales enfermedades a nivel mundial y constituye una importante causa de morbilidad y mortalidad para países de bajos y medianos ingresos. Objetivo: determinar la importancia epidemiológica de la hipertensión arterial como factor de riesgo cardiovascular en diferentes estudios realizados a nivel mundial, en Latinoamérica y Colombia. Metodología: se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura científica en las bases de datos de PudMed/Medline, Scielo, LILACS, así como también en revistas médicas y textos publicados por el Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social de Colombia. Discusión y conclusiones: más de 90% de los pacientes hipertensos padecen la forma primaria de la enfermedad, la cual está asociada con un aumento de la resistencia vascular periférica. Las características socioeconómicas de los países y el nivel educativo individual se relacionan con la prevalencia y el manejo adecuado de esta patología. El aumento en la prevalencia de las enfermedades crónicas, sumado a eventos históricos de importancia, fueron determinantes para el desarrollo de estudios epidemiológicos mundiales como el Framingham Heart Study. En América Latina y en Colombia se han realizado diferentes estudios que permiten establecer datos relacionados con la hipertensión arterial, demostrando cifras alarmantes en cuanto al conocimiento, tratamiento y control de esta condición, por lo cual, surge la necesidad de establecer programas para la detección de pacientes hipertensos con el fin de generar estrategias que disminuyan de manera significativa las enfermedades cardiovasculares.

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

Hypertension awareness and control is poor in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, implementing strategies to increase hypertension detection is needed. Colombia participated as one of the 92 countries involved in the third campaign of the May Measurement Month in 2019. Blood pressure (BP) was measured in 48 324 volunteers from 13 departments in Colombia. In total, 27.9% individuals were identified with hypertension. Of those with hypertension, 63.7% were aware of their condition, 60.0% were on antihypertensive medication, and 38.4% had controlled BP. These results showed low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in this sample of subjects volunteered to participate, suggest the urgent necessity of implementing programmes to improve the diagnosis and management of hypertension in Colombia.

May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Colombia

High blood pressure (BP) is the leading global preventable cause of death and the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, due to its asymptomatic nature, the lack of awareness of this condition causes underdiagnosis and low rates of adherence to pharmacological treatment. Looking for practical approaches to increase awareness worldwide, the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) implemented the 2nd May Measurement Month campaign in 2018 (MMM18). In order to contribute to this initiative, Colombia participated as one of the 89 countries involved in this hypertension screening programme. Blood pressure was measured in subjects from 11 departments in Colombia. Under the leadership of the Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander (FOSCAL), 400 volunteers across the country collected the data following the MMM protocol. Measurements from 35 548 participants with a mean age of 41.9 years were obtained. In total, 9475 (26.7%) of the total population studied had hypertension. Of those with hypertension, 69.9% of these subjects were aware of their condition, 65.0% were on antihypertensive medication, and 43.1% had controlled BP. Of those on medication, 66.3% had controlled BP. Hypertension screening, awareness, treatment, and control should be a priority in public health objectives due to its elevated burden of disease and direct association with increased CVD. The MMM campaign provided a positive impact in the diagnosis of hypertension across Colombia. Although efforts are being made to expand treatment capability and adherence, still more are needed to insure a broader coverage of antihypertensive medication in Colombia.