May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Angola

Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest risk factor that contributes to the global burden of disease and mortality. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed to improved awareness of BP and has been a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2019. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of hypertension, and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. In total, 7112 individuals were screened (mean age 41.3 years; 50.4% female; 99.5% black) in 6 of the 18 Angolan provinces. In total, 99.6% of screenees provided three BP readings with an average BP of the 2nd and 3rd readings of 126/81 mmHg. After imputation, 2745 (38.6%) had hypertension of whom 1389 (59.8%) were aware of their diagnosis and 50.6% were on antihypertensive medication. Of those 1389 treated participants, 41.2% were controlled (<140/90 mmHg) and of all hypertensive individuals, 20.8% were controlled. Also, 1356 individuals had untreated hypertension and 817 were inadequately treated. Angolan MMM19 follows on from the MMM17 (n = 17481) and MMM18 (n = 14433) studies, which were the largest BP screening campaigns undertaken in Angola. The 2019 results showed a high percentage of hypertensive individuals and almost 2200 adults had either untreated or inadequately treated hypertension, demonstrating that there is work to do but also that the Angolan MMM is being effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals

May measurement month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Angola.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide with high prevalence in the world and with a huge impact on public health. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2018. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. In Angola 14 433 individuals (mean age 38.6 years; 53.7% female; 99.9% black) in 6 of 18 provinces were screened. In total, 99.0% of screenees provided three BP readings with an average BP from 2nd and 3rd reading of 126/80 mmHg. After imputation, 4844 (33.6%) had hypertension of whom 54.2% were aware of their diagnosis and 46.3% were on antihypertensive medication. Of those medicated, 42.6% were controlled and of all hypertensive individuals, 19.7% were controlled. We screened 2603 individuals with untreated hypertension and 1285 with inadequately treated hypertension. Angolan MMM18 emerges as a continuation of the Angolan MMM17 study, the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Angola, enabling us to compare the 2 years. This year's results also showed a high percentage of hypertensive individuals and almost 3900 adults with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension, demonstrating that there is still a long way to go but also that the Angolan MMM is being effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals

A review on electric vehicles and their interaction with smart grids: the case of Brazil

This work provides a comprehensive literature review to evaluate the expected impacts of the introduction of electric vehicles into the power electric system with smart grid, examining the case of Brazil. Previous studies point out to different impact levels with the introduction of electric vehicles in the country’s electric grid, varying from small impacts for substitution of 10 % of the fleet, to potential difficulties if more than 20 % of the fleet is replaced. Electric vehicles offer significant advantages over their internal combustion engine powered vehicles counterparts, including the higher efficiency and performance of the electric motor, reduced pollution emissions during operation, and decreased noise levels. The current disadvantages lie mainly with the higher vehicle and battery costs, relatively long battery-charging period required, limited battery lifetime, and the need to increase market availability. Brazil’s electricity generation capacity is primarily based on clean and renewable energy (hydropower, wind, biomass), providing the preferred approach to charge electric vehicles with minimal carbon and other pollutant emissions. With the introduction of smart grids in the country’s electricity distribution structure, electric vehicles also provide a pathway (with renewable energy options) toward cleaner electricity, leveling the power demand cycle, and lowering the need to add costly central station generation by integrating them into the grid itself during periods when they are not used for transportation. However, careful studies must be conducted mainly due to the need to increase electric power generation to meet existing and imminent demands