Hypertension is a growing burden worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, ∼1.13 billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative of the International Society of Hypertension aimed at raising awareness of high blood pressure (BP) and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. We provide the results of the 2017 MMM (MMM17) edition in Mauritius. This cross-sectional survey of participants aged 18 years and over was carried out in May 2017. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP of at least 140 mmHg or diastolic BP of at least 90mmHg or in those on antihypertensive medication. Blood pressure measurement and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. The screening was conducted by the Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion Unit, which is under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, mainly in workplaces and community centres, in both rural and urban areas across Mauritius. Of the 2302 individuals screened, after multiple imputations, 375 (16.3%) had untreated hypertension. May Measurement Month 2017 was the very first BP screening campaign initiated in Mauritius. These results suggest that MMM17 was useful in the identification of potential patients with raised BP.

Hypertension is a growing burden worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.13 billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative of the International Society of Hypertension aimed at raising awareness of high blood pressure (BP) and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. We provide the results of the 2019 MMM (MMM19) edition in Mauritius. This cross-sectional survey of participants aged ≥ 18 years was carried out in May 2019. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP of at least 140 mmHg or diastolic BP of at least 90 mmHg or in those on antihypertensive medication. Blood pressure measurement and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. Screening was conducted by the Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion Unit, which is under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, mainly in workplaces and community centres, in both rural and urban areas across Mauritius. Of the 8262 individuals screened, after multiple imputations, 950 (14%) had untreated hypertension. May Measurement Month 2019 was the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Mauritius. These results suggest that MMM19 is useful in the identification of potential patients with raised BP.

Background 15–20% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients will eventually undergo total proctocolectomy (TPC) with or without a restorative pouch following. The two main indications include refractory UC and advanced colonic neoplasia. Risk factors associated with TPC in the biological era are not clarified. The aim of the study was to compare TPC performed with a finding of neoplasia to all other indications. Methods An observational retrospective analysis of all TPC performed at a single tertiary referral medical center between 2003–2020, was performed. Results Seventy-nine patients were included, 25 (31%) with neoplasia and 54 (69%) for all other indications. Average age was 42, 62% men, and 12.5 years of disease prior to surgery. Out of the neoplasia group, only 6 (24%) and 8 (32%) were exposed to biologics and steroids prior to surgery, opposed to 36 (66.6%) and 38 (70%) in the controls, p=0.005 and 0.001 respectively. Average years of disease was 18.7± 13 for neoplasia group compared to 9.7± 11 years for the controls, p<0.001. The major indications for TPC in the neoplasia group were a finding in colonoscopy 16 (64%) and treatment failure 5 (20 %), opposed to 4 (7%) and 43 (80%) in the controls, p<0.001 for both, respectively. Short term complications and long term complications occurred in 15 (60%) and 6 (24%) of in the neoplasia group compared to 39 (72%) and 33 (61%) in the controls, p=0.27 and 0.002, respectively. Hemoglobin was higher and albumin lower in the neoplasia group. Two-step procedures and three-step procedures were performed on 12 (48%) and 1 (4%) of patients in the neoplasia group compared to 27 (50%) and 16 (29%) in the controls, p=0.86 and 0.01, respectively. Conclusion Even in the biologic era, neoplasia encounters nearly one-third of TPC procedures. Short disease duration and use of biologics are correlated with a decreased risk for neoplasia. Long term complications are less common when TPC performed due to neoplasia.