Hae Young Lee1, Gyu Chul Oh2, Il Suk Sohn3, Sungha Park4, Jinho Shin5, Wook Bum Pyun6, Myeong Chan Cho7. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. 7. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea. mccho@chungbuk.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hypertension (HTN) is the most contributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative to raise awareness of HTN and act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide. METHODS: An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of participants aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2019. Over 10,000 participants were recruited in the MMM 2019 Korea, with a slogan of "A simple measure to save lives - #checkyourpressure." RESULTS: A total of 9,950 participants with valid clinical blood pressure (BP) data were used for analysis. All participants were Korean in ethnicity. The mean age was 57.2±21.2 years, 57.8% were females, and the mean body mass index was 23.4±3.3 kg/m². Among the enrolled population, 20.1% were less than 30 years old, and 5.0% were 30-39 years old. 37.0% of the participants reported a previous diagnosis of HTN, and 91.3% of those diagnosed were on antihypertensive medications. Notably, more than 20% of the participants had not measured their BP during the last 12 months, and the awareness rate in the young hypertensive participants (aged <40) was less than 10%. Among hypertensive participants, the treatment rate was 69.3%, and the control rate among those taking medications was 61.2%. CONCLUSION: MMM 2019 Korea campaign reported high BP control rates in individuals with HTN, reaching 60%. However, the awareness rate in young hypertensive participants was less than 10% along with suboptimal management status. The MMM 2019 Korea again raised the importance of regular BP measurement in the younger population.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Hypertension (HTN) is the most contributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative to raise awareness of HTN and act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide. METHODS: An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of participants aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2019. Over 10,000 participants were recruited in the MMM 2019 Korea, with a slogan of "A simple measure to save lives - #checkyourpressure." RESULTS: A total of 9,950 participants with valid clinical blood pressure (BP) data were used for analysis. All participants were Korean in ethnicity. The mean age was 57.2±21.2 years, 57.8% were females, and the mean body mass index was 23.4±3.3 kg/m². Among the enrolled population, 20.1% were less than 30 years old, and 5.0% were 30-39 years old. 37.0% of the participants reported a previous diagnosis of HTN, and 91.3% of those diagnosed were on antihypertensive medications. Notably, more than 20% of the participants had not measured their BP during the last 12 months, and the awareness rate in the young hypertensiveparticipants (aged <40) was less than 10%. Among hypertensiveparticipants, the treatment rate was 69.3%, and the control rate among those taking medications was 61.2%. CONCLUSION:MMM 2019 Korea campaign reported high BP control rates in individuals with HTN, reaching 60%. However, the awareness rate in young hypertensiveparticipants was less than 10% along with suboptimal management status. The MMM 2019 Korea again raised the importance of regular BP measurement in the younger population.