Systematic community-based screening in a rural Tanzanian hospital detected elevated blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg) in 33% of 1,638 adult volunteers.
Observational (n=1,638)
No
Systematic community-based screening in a rural, largely uninsured Tanzanian population identified a 33% prevalence of elevated blood pressure, enabling early management through counseling and lifestyle interventions.
Objective: Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and hypertension represents the main preventable risk factor. This project called Pole Pole (little by little) aimed to provide free blood pressure (BP) screening to hospital staff and patients’ relatives, increase awareness of cardiovascular risk, and collect data for a prevalence study in a rural district with limited access to healthcare coverage. Design and method: Design and Method. A prospective observational study was conducted from June to December 2025 in Consolata Hospital Ikonda, Tanzania. Consecutive volunteers’adults aged >18 years were enrolled. Following completion of a standardized questionnaire assessing lifestyle factors and medical history, participants underwent BP measurement according to European guidelines. Based on the results, participants received personalized counseling. Data were recorded in an electronic database for analysis. Results: Results. A total of 1,638 individuals were evaluated (86% female; 48% aged 41–64 years). Only 10% had health insurance coverage. In 33% systolic BP was >140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP was >90 mmHg. Grade 2-3 hypertension (>160/100 mmHg) was detected in 6% of participants. Alcohol consumption was reported by 12%, smoking by 0.8%, and 13.5% had known chronic diseases. The increase in BMI category was associated with higher odds of elevated blood pressure. Regarding management, 1,123 individuals (68%) received structured medical counseling, 213 (13%) were specifically advised to implement lifestyle modifications, 299 (18%) were referred to outpatient clinic for drug refill and follow-up, and one patient required emergency referral. Conclusions: Conclusions. Systematic screening identified a substantial proportion of individuals with elevated BP in a largely uninsured population. Most cases were managed at an early stage through counseling and lifestyle intervention, potentially reducing the need for future costly treatments and complications, highlighting the importance of free preventive initiatives. Our findings demonstrate that structured community-based screening programs can represent an effective and sustainable public health strategy in low-resource rural settings.
Milani et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Hypertension (n=1,638). Blood pressure screening was evaluated on Elevated blood pressure (systolic BP >140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP >90 mmHg). Systematic community-based screening in a rural Tanzanian hospital detected elevated blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg) in 33% of 1,638 adult volunteers.