To be one of the 100 countries on board May Measurement month and screen over 2.5 million people this month
Hypertension is emerging as the most prevalent chronic health issue in the country. Taking a cue from several studies done on hypertension by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other medical institutions across India, the government has decided to take part in a global survey to measure blood measure. India is one of the 100 countries taking part in the May Measurement Month (MMM) 2017, a global initiative to raise awareness on the importance of blood pressure screening to tackle this epidemic.
This global initiative aims to screen 25 million individuals, under the aegis of International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and the World Hypertension League (WHL).
ICMR in association with Public Health Foundation of India, Centre for Chronic Disease Control, Indian Medical Association, Army Medical Corps, Association of Physicians of India, Association of Healthcare Providers of India, and several healthcare institutions will undertake a drive at around 500 sites across the country and take BP readings of over 2.5 million people. The data collated will be part of a global survey of men and women aged 18 to 65, who have not had their BP measured ever, or since 30 April 2016.
Hospitals, public health departments across various states, leading healthcare institutions, national institutes under the ICMR, select Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have been identified as screening sites for the campaign.
“Early detection of hypertension can delay non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improve quality of life. Through this initiative we aim to raise awareness and also inculcate regular high BP monitoring by physicians. The data will also help formulate better policy and guidelines to tackle hypertension and NCDs in India,” Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Director General, ICMR and Secretary, Department of Health Research, MoHFW, said.
Hypertension is a major public health issue and is responsible for the death of over 2.6 lakh Indians from urban and rural areas.
Study speaks
1. April issue of International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Prevalence of hypertension in rural population of Central India
Overall: 17 per cent among
Among women: 18.3 per cent
Among men: 15.8 per cent
2. ICMR study in 2016
In a sample size of over 1,100 persons
Prevalence of hypertension: 14.1 per cent
The study was done jointly by Community Medicine departments of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Maulana Azad Medical College. It found that hypertensive tendencies were significantly higher in individuals above the age of 35
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Hypertension")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}