Since high blood pressure (HBP) is the most common chronic condition in France and one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, kidney failure, and dementia, Santé publique France is tasked with monitoring and preventing HBP.

Comprehensive Monitoring of High Blood Pressure

Santé publique France has established a hypertension surveillance program based on:

• General population studies with a health examination:

  • The National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) conducted in 2006–2007 and the Health Survey on the Environment, Biomonitoring, Physical Activity, and Nutrition (Esteban), (2014 and 2016). As surveys representative of the French mainland population, they have provided data on the prevalence, treatment rates, and control of hypertension in France and enabled the study of trends.

  • The Health, Biomonitoring, Environment, Food, and Nutrition Survey (Albane), representative of the general population of mainland France, includes a health examination with blood pressure measurement. Data collection for the first wave of the survey is currently underway (2025–2026).

  • The Unono Wa Maore survey, conducted in Mayotte in 2018–2019, provides a description of the health status of the general population living in Mayotte.

  • The SaMarOya survey, a multi-thematic cross-sectional health survey of the general population to be conducted in the inland municipalities of French Guiana (2026/2027).

• The medical-administrative databases for monitoring pharmacologically treated hypertension, complications of hypertension, and/or monitoring hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

• General population studies without health examinations:

  • the Santé publique France Barometer, a repeated cross-sectional survey, for the surveillance of self-reported hypertension and behaviors and knowledge regarding hypertension (mainland France and overseas departments and regions excluding Mayotte).

Preventive measures against hypertension

As part of its prevention mission, Santé publique France provides information and recommends appropriate preventive measures, such as lifestyle and dietary changes to lower blood pressure and thereby reduce the associated risk.

The agency has launched the website mangerbouger.fr, which features a portal for the general public and a portal for healthcare professionals. The general public can access the “Menu Maker” tool, which offers advice on balanced meals. Information is available to help understand and encourage the use of Nutri-Score for healthier daily eating habits.

Beyond individual behaviors, population-level measures aimed at promoting access to healthy food and physical activity in health-promoting environments are encouraged.

The mangerbouger.fr website also provides information on salt and salty food consumption, along with tips for limiting intake.

• Reducing salty foods and salt

In addition, the website alcoolinfoservice.fr offers advice and tips on how to reduce alcohol consumption, as well as fact sheets on the alcohol content of different beverages, guidelines for moderate drinking, and the long-term health risks associated with alcohol.

• Information for healthcare professionals

Drawing on its hypertension surveillance program, Santé publique France published an article in 2018 in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin on the results of the Esteban study regarding hypertension and the trends observed since the ENNS study in 2006.