BMC tells Mumbaikars to get screened and treated for BP

MUMBAI: On World Hypertension Day, observed this Friday, the BMC issued a public appeal to Mumbaikars, urging them to routinely measure their blood pressure and utilize the free treatment services provided by the civic body. Globally, approximately 46% of people with high blood pressure are unaware of their condition, a statistic that likely reflects the situation in the city as well.

In Mumbai, cardiovascular diseases account for nearly 25% of all deaths, a trend that has remained steady for over a decade. In 2022, of the 17,000 deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases, nearly 10,000 were due to heart attacks. Hypertension and diabetes are two of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular events. The prevalence of hypertension in Mumbai's adult population is estimated to be around 26%.

Dr Daksha Shah, BMC’s executive health officer said that this year's theme for the Hypertension Day is, 'Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer'. “The key to early detection and control of hypertension is timely screening. People above 30 years should get screened every six months or earlier if they have risk factors,” she said.

Data shows that less than half of all adults with high blood pressure are diagnosed and treated world over. And only 1 in 5 adults have their blood pressure under control. This puts 80% of people at risk of complications including heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat and kidney damage.

In order to tackle hypertension, the civic authorities set up non-communicable disease (NCD) corners in 26 BMC hospitals since August 2022, which have collectively screened over 3.5 lakh people for diabetes and hypertension. Of those screened, nearly 10% were suspected to have high blood pressure and are being brought under treatment, the civic body said.

Further, since January 2023, BMC has conducted a city-wide survey targeting citizens above 30 years of age in slums and other areas. Over 18 lakh people have been screened, of which around 17,000 have been identified with hypertension. In addition, around 60,000 to 70,000 people are checked for diabetes and blood pressure at the Balasaheb Thackeray Clinics 's routinely.