Abstract:
Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide leading to over 10 million deaths each year. Sub-
Saharan Africa has the highest age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension. In Kenya, 24.5% of adults have ele-
vated BP with lack of awareness being the main barrier to achieving satisfactory control rates. May
Measurement Month (MMM17) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a tempo-
rary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volun-
teers aged 18 years was carried out in May 2017. Screening was coordinated by the Kenya Cardiac Society in
17 sites across the country. Blood pressure measurements, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis
followed the standard MMM protocol. A total of 14 847 individuals were screened. After multiple imputation,
3647 (24.6%) had hypertension. Of individuals not receiving any antihypertensive medication, 2019 (15.3%) were
hypertensive. Of individuals receiving antihypertensive medication, 740 (45.5%) had uncontrolled BP. Being dia-
betic and having a body mass index (BMI) 25 kg/m 2 were associated with higher BP. Lack of awareness and
poor control in those identified is a major challenge in Kenya. The MMM project demonstrated that mass screen-
ing for elevated BP is feasible, even in settings with limited resources. The presence of hypertension in a quar-
ter of Kenyan adults with poor awareness and control rates demonstrates the need for programmes to raise
awareness in the community.
