Vol. 8, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are two major public health challenges that contribute significantly to global morbidity and mortality. Both conditions often progress silently in their early stages, making them ideal candidates for population-based screening due to the availability of reliable diagnostic tools.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of previously undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a screening program implemented in primary health care centers in the center of Basrah city.

Methods: A record-based cross-sectional study was conducted using data from a screening program implemented across seven primary health care centers in Basrah city center. The study included individuals aged 20 years and above for hypertension screening, and 40 years and above for diabetes mellitus screening. Systematic random sampling was used. A total of 1,156 individuals were initially screened for hypertension and 491 for diabetes mellitus in 2016. However, 182 and 50 individuals, respectively, did not return for confirmatory testing, leaving final sample sizes of 974 and 441.

Results: The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes mellitus was found to be 3.1% and 3.2%, respectively, with a higher rate observed among males. Undiagnosed hypertension was significantly more common in individuals aged 60 years and above (10.4%), whereas no significant age association was found for diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion: The low prevalence of undiagnosed cases highlights the importance of early detection. Despite modest figures, the continuation and refinement of screening programs are essential to prevent complications and reduce disease burden.