Blood pressure measurement in Italian mountain shelters: a world hypertension day initiative

World Hypertension Day and May Measurement Month are large-scale population initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of hypertension and providing opportunistic blood pressure (BP) screening. In Italy, “Blood Pressure Measurement in Mountain Shelters” has been conducted since 2016 as a joint initiative of Italian Society of Hypertension, Italian Alpine Club and Italian Society of Mountain Medicine, with the aim of providing advice and education on hypertension and cardiovascular risk among visitors of mountain shelters. Methods. Trained volunteers provided free advice to visitors of mountain shelters throughout Italy. Basic demographic, lifestyle and clinical information was collected with anonymous questionnaire. Seated BP was obtained using manual or oscillometric devices as the average of three measurements. The initiative took place in summer when mountain attendance is highest. The present analysis of merged data collected in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions focuses on describing participant characteristics, including BP, stratified by altitude of data collection. Results. After exclusion of incomplete records (missing age, sex or BP), data of 12,317 participants from 140 mountain shelters were analysed. No relevant differences were observed across the different years in terms of participant characteristics or BP levels. Participant characteristics are reported in the Table. Median BP and body mass index were within normal limits, and the prevalence of diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension was lower than that in the general Italian population. Fewer than 15% of participants reported taking at least one antihypertensive medication. Higher altitudes of data collection were associated with higher male sex prevalence and heart rate and with lower age, BMI, SpO2, prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. Only minor differences were observed in measured BP. Conclusions. Blood Pressure Measurement in Mountain Shelters is a unique initiative, willingly attended by visitors to mountain areas. Participants generally displayed a favourable cardiovascular risk profile; however, a substantial proportion, including those assessed at higher altitudes, presented at least one cardiovascular risk factor. This screening and educational initiative represents a valuable opportunity to identify individuals at risk and to provide counselling on cardiovascular prevention among visitors of mountain shelters.