HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING DURING MAY MEASUREMENT MONTH (MMM) 2019: TIME FOR ADOLESCENTS?

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Every year, may 17th is dedicated to the World Hypertension Day (WHD). This is an initiative of the World Hypertension League, an affiliate of the International Society of Hypertension. These united forces have expanded to make May Measurement Month (MMM), a month of campaigning to raise awareness against hypertension. The objective of this study was to introduce the data obtained from a sample of adults and adolescents during the 2019 WHD. Design and method: Screening was conducted at a French hospital (Hôpital Avicenne) with the voluntary and volunteer assistance of physicians, interns, pharmacy and nursing students of our service, while following the standard MMM protocol. The support of the French Society of Hypertension (in partnership with Omron France) has been proposed to provide our centre with blood pressure (BP) monitors (Omron HEM-FL31/M3 Comfortâ). Results: Anonymous general data for this population of 140 subjects, including 66 adolescents, are summarized in the table. The majority of adult participants reported that their last BP measurement was more than a year ago, or was never even taken. All adolescents had measured their BP for the first time during this campaign. The number of known hypertensive adults 15 (20,3%). No adolescents were known to have high BP. In this population, 10 (13,5%) adults and 3 (4,5 %) adolescents have an unknown high normal BP. As for new hypertensive patients, there are 6 adults (8,1%) and 4 adolescents (6,1%) broken down as follows: Grade 1 hypertension: 4 adults and 4 adolescents, Grade II: only 2 adults, and Grade III: no one. Conclusions: Hypertension in children and adolescents is underestimated and under-diagnosed in clinical practice. European and American guidelines tend to simplify adult hypertension classifications to apply it in adolescents, but data from intervention and screening trials are not yet available. Although our screening approach remains modest in France (or at the European level), it aims to place young people at the centre of screening actions. A sustainable and methodical model for hypertension screening campaigns must make it possible to involvement the future generations in the fight against cardiovascular risk.