Prevalence, treatment, control and monitoring of hypertension: A nationwide community-based survey in Taiwan, 2017
Journal
Acta Cardiologica Sinica
Journal Volume
36
Journal Issue
4
Pages
375-381
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Inadequate awareness and control remain the major obstacles for hypertension management worldwide. This observational study intended to assess the current status of hypertension management in Taiwan. Methods: The Taiwan May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was a nationwide survey for public alertness to hypertension initiated in 2017 and conducted in local pharmacies. Participants were asked about body habitus, comorbidities, smoking/drinking, use of anti-hypertensive drugs, and frequency of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring. Three blood pressure (BP) readings were then measured by trained pharmacists. The mean BP was obtained by averaging all readings. Results: BP recordings were obtained from 49,522 participants (average age, 56.9 ± 16.0 years), of whom 26.1% had an elevated pharmacist-measured BP (? 140/90 mmHg). The rate of BP control, defined as pharmacist-measured BP < 140/90 mmHg at the MMM visit, was 63.1% among treated hypertensive participants (n = 21,410). Participants who had uncontrolled hypertension were associated with a higher body mass index, currently smoking/drinking, diabetes, and stroke. More active SMBP monitoring (? weekly) was more often implemented in the participants with advanced age and cardiovascular diseases. More active SMBP (? weekly) was associated with lower measured BP among treated hypertensive participants but not overall control rate (control rate: 56.4% for ? weekly vs. 55.8% for < weekly, p = 0.363). Conclusions: In the Taiwan MMM 2017, the hypertension control rate surpassed 60% in treated hypertensive participants. Suboptimal BP control was related to cardiovascular risk factors and prior stroke. Treated hypertensives had a lower measured BP but similar hypertension control rate for more active versus less active SMBP. ? 2020, Republic of China Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; Article; awareness; blood pressure; brain ischemia; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular risk; cerebrovascular accident; coronary artery disease; diabetes mellitus; diastolic blood pressure; elevated blood pressure; female; health care personnel; human; hypertension; major clinical study; male; middle aged; obesity; prevalence; propensity score; questionnaire; risk factor; smoking; systolic blood pressure; Taiwan; urban hospital; waist circumference
Publisher
Republic of China Society of Cardiology
Type
journal article