Hypertension in Russia: Changes Observed After 4 Years of a Comprehensive Health System Improvement Program in the Yaroslavl Region

Stroke Outcomes in a Population-Focused Urban Hypertension Program in Brazil and Senegal

BACKGROUND

Stroke is one of the major causes of death worldwide, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. The implementation of multifaceted strategies aiming at blood pressure control may change the global burden of stroke.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated the impact of a multisector urban cardiovascular health initiative (CARDIO4Cities) on stroke outcomes in Dakar, Senegal, and São Paulo, Brazil. Data covered preintervention, intervention, and follow-up periods with ongoing intervention from 2016 to 2021. An interrupted time series analysis and a segmented regression approach were used to evaluate temporal trends. The relative risk of stroke hospitalization was analyzed with a generalized linear model. In São Paulo, data could also be compared between intervention and control districts. A total of 3445 stroke hospitalizations were analyzed in Dakar and 4491 in São Paulo. In both cities, age-standardized stroke hospitalization rates (Dakar: -26%; São Paulo: -54% on average across 2 districts) and the risk of death from stroke declined over the intervention period. In São Paulo, the baseline risk of stroke hospitalization was comparable across the city. In the follow-up period, the risk was 24.5% lower in the intervention districts compared with the rest of the city (P<0.05). The COVID-19 situation did not change this dynamic.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of the multisectoral CARDIO4Cities initiative correlated with positive trends in stroke outcomes. Interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve hypertension management at population level appear to rapidly translate into reduced stroke-related hospitalizations and mortality.

Adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of the HEARTS technical package in primary health care settings in Jordan to improve the management of hypertension: a pilot study

The majority of patients with hypertension in Jordan have uncontrolled blood pressure. This study aimed to adapt and implement the hypertension management protocol (a module in the HEARTS technical package) in health care centers in Jordan and evaluate its effectiveness on hypertension management and control. The hypertension management protocol was adapted and implemented in six health centers followed by training of the healthcare staff on the adapted protocol. Patients above 18 years old who attended health centers during the study period were recruited consecutively. The blood pressure of 852 patients was monitored over 4 months, using an individual patient treatment card. At the baseline visit, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure was 71.5%. After 4 months of the implementation of the protocol, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure decreased to 29.1%. Of all studied characteristics, age was the only significant predictor of achieving blood pressure control. Patients aged ≤50 had a higher rate of controlled blood pressure readings after 4 months of implementation of the protocol compared to patients older than 60 years (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.67; P value = 0.028). In conclusion, the implementation of the HEARTS hypertension management protocol has successfully achieved better control of the blood pressure of the enrolled patients after 4 months of implementation. To achieve better control of hypertension in the general population, integrating evidence-based strategies for hypertension control that are listed in the HEART technical package into routine care is strongly recommended.

Implementing a multisector public-private partnership to improve urban hypertension management in low-and middle- income countries

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease presents an increasing health burden to low- and middle-income countries. Although ample therapeutic options and care improvement frameworks exist to address its prime risk factor, hypertension, blood pressure control rates remain poor. We describe the results of an effectiveness study of a multisector urban population health initiative that targets hypertension in a real-world implementation setting in cities across three continents. The initiative followed the "CARDIO4Cities" approach (quality of Care, early Access, policy Reform, Data and digital technology, Intersectoral collaboration, and local Ownership).

METHOD

The approach was applied in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Dakar in Senegal, and São Paulo in Brazil. In each city, a portfolio of evidence-based practices was implemented, tailored to local priorities and available data. Outcomes were measured by extracting hypertension diagnosis, treatment and control rates from primary health records. Data from 18,997 patients with hypertension in primary health facilities were analyzed.

RESULTS

Over one to two years of implementation, blood pressure control rates among enrolled patients receiving medication tripled in São Paulo (from 12·3% to 31·2%) and Dakar (from 6·7% to 19·4%) and increased six-fold in Ulaanbaatar (from 3·1% to 19·7%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides first evidence that a multisectoral population health approach to implement known best-practices, supported by data and digital technologies, and relying on local buy-in and ownership, can improve hypertension control in high-burden urban primary care settings in low-and middle-income countries.

Developing population-based hypertension control programs

Hypertension remains the leading cause of cardiovascular disease globally despite the availability of safe and effective treatments. Unfortunately, many barriers exist to controlling hypertension, including a lack of effective screening and awareness, an inability to access treatment and challenges with its management when it is treated. Addressing these barriers is complex and requires engaging in a systematic and sustained approach across communities over time. This analysis aims to describe the key elements needed to create an effective delivery system for hypertension control. A successful system requires political will and supportive leadership at all levels of an organization, including at the point of care delivery (office or clinic), in the health care system, and at regional, state and national levels. Effective screening and outreach systems are necessary to identify individuals not previously diagnosed with hypertension, and a system for follow up and tracking is needed after people are diagnosed. Implementing simple protocols for treating hypertension can reduce confusion among providers and increase treatment efficiency. Ensuring easy access to safe, effective and affordable medications can increase blood pressure control and potentially decrease health care system costs. Task-sharing among members of the health care team can expand the services that are delivered. Finally, monitoring of and reporting on the performance of the health care team are needed to learn from those who are doing well, disseminate ideas to those in need of improvement and identify individual patients who need outreach or additional care. Successful large-scale hypertension programs in different settings share many of these key elements and serve as examples to improve systems of hypertension care delivery throughout the world.

Government-Expert Joint Intervention with Treatment Algorithm and Improved Hypertension Management and Reduced Stroke Mortality in a Primary-Care Setting

Hypertension management is suboptimal in the primary-care setting of developing countries, where the burden of both hypertension and cardiovascular disease is huge. Therefore, we conducted a government-expert joint intervention in a resource-constrained primary setting of Emin, China, between 2014 and 2016, to improve hypertension management and reduce hypertension-related hospitalization and mortality. Primary-care providers were trained on treatment algorithm and physicians for specialized management. Public education was delivered by various ways including door-to-door screening. Program effectiveness was evaluated using screening data by comparing hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates and by comparing hypertension-related hospitalization and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke mortality at each phase. As results, 313 primary-health providers were trained to use the algorithm and 3 physicians attended specialist training. 1/3 of locals (49490 of 133376) were screened. Compared to the early phase, hypertension awareness improved by 9.3% (58% vs. 64%), treatment by 11.4% (39% vs. 44%), and control rates by 33% (10% vs. 15%). The proportion of case/all-cause hospitalization was reduced by 35% (4.02% vs. 2.60%) for CVD and by 17% (3.72% vs. 3.10%) for stroke. The proportion of stroke/all-cause death was reduced by 46% (21.9% in 2011-2013 vs. 15.0% in 2014-2016). At the control area, the proportion of case/all-cause mortality showed no reduction. In conclusion, government-expert joint intervention with introducing treatment algorithm may improve hypertension control and decrease related hospitalization and stroke mortality in underresourced settings.

World Heart Federation Roadmap for Hypertension - A 2021 Update

The World Heart Federation (WHF) Roadmap series covers a large range of cardiovascular conditions. These Roadmaps identify potential roadblocks and their solutions to improve the prevention, detection and management of cardiovascular diseases and provide a generic global framework available for local adaptation. A first Roadmap on raised blood pressure was published in 2015. Since then, advances in hypertension have included the publication of new clinical guidelines (AHA/ACC; ESC; ESH/ISH); the launch of the WHO Global HEARTS Initiative in 2016 and the associated Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) initiative in 2017; the inclusion of single-pill combinations on the WHO Essential Medicines' list as well as various advances in technology, in particular telemedicine and mobile health. Given the substantial benefit accrued from effective interventions in the management of hypertension and their potential for scalability in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), the WHF has now revisited and updated the 'Roadmap for raised BP' as 'Roadmap for hypertension' by incorporating new developments in science and policy. Even though cost-effective lifestyle and medical interventions to prevent and manage hypertension exist, uptake is still low, particularly in resource-poor areas. This Roadmap examined the roadblocks pertaining to both the demand side (demographic and socio-economic factors, knowledge and beliefs, social relations, norms, and traditions) and the supply side (health systems resources and processes) along the patient pathway to propose a range of possible solutions to overcoming them. Those include the development of population-wide prevention and control programmes; the implementation of opportunistic screening and of out-of-office blood pressure measurements; the strengthening of primary care and a greater focus on task sharing and team-based care; the delivery of people-centred care and stronger patient and carer education; and the facilitation of adherence to treatment. All of the above are dependent upon the availability and effective distribution of good quality, evidence-based, inexpensive BP-lowering agents.

Implementation of a community-based hypertension control program in Matanzas, Cuba

Increased blood pressure is a leading risk factor for death worldwide, and improving the control of hypertension is a major health goal to reduce non-communicable disease. Thus, in 2016, as part of a regional effort between the Pan American Health Organization and Cuban Ministry of Public Health to reduce cardiovascular risk and disease, a community demonstration project was implemented to enhance hypertension control. The intervention project was in a population of 25 868 people served by the Carlos Verdugo Martínez Polyclinic in Matanzas, Cuba. The project implemented interventions currently recommended in the World Health Organization HEARTS modules, including a standardized clinical training program with certification for blood pressure measurement, routine screening for hypertension in clinics and in the community, a simple directive pharmacologic treatment algorithm, and a registry with performance reporting and feedback. Qualitative and quantitative program monitoring and evaluation was established. In a 2010 national survey, the prevalence of hypertension and the rate of hypertension control were estimated to be 31% and 36%, respectively. Following less than one year of the full implementation of the program, the prevalence of hypertension, proportion of the hypertensive population registered as having hypertension, proportion of those drug-treated who were controlled, and estimated population rate of control were 30%, 90%, 68%, and 58%, respectively. Based on these positive results, the program has been expanded to include another demonstration program initiated in a second region. In addition, preliminary efforts to disseminate and scale-up aspects of the program to the full Cuban population have started.

Impact of Clinical Factors on the Achievement of Target Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients from Ivanovo Region of Russia: Data of 2015

INTRODUCTION

In Russia, blood pressure (BP) control is below the optimal. The little is known about regional features and barriers to adequate BP control in Russian primary care.

AIM

To evaluate the impact of clinical factors on achieving the target BP in hypertensive patients in one region of Russia.

METHODS

Retrospective medical data of 2015 on 11,129 patients (31.4% male) with hypertension (Htn) from Ivanovo region of Russia were examined. Achievement of target BP was assessed in all patients. We study association between BP control and clinical factors.

RESULTS

45.9% of studied patients with Htn had controlled BP. The frequency of achieving the target BP in subsets of hypertensive patients was 37.8% in patients with diabetes, 39.5% in patients with coronary artery disease, and 29.9% in patients with chronic heart failure. The main clinical factors associated with achieving the target BP in studied hypertensive patients were the advice on alcohol consumption, advice on smoking cessation, and advice on weight reduction. Therapy with main antihypertensive drugs (in particular, beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics) were also factors of optimal BP control in these patients. Comorbidities (chronic heart failure and cardiovascular diseases requiring the prescription of aspirin and statins) and family history of coronary artery disease were associated with inadequate BP control. A negative effect of some antihypertensive drugs (potassium sparing diuretics, ARBs, ACE-Is, and dihydropyridine CCBs) on BP control that was found out in our study requires further investigation. Other studied factors had no influence on BP control in patients with Htn from Ivanovo region.

CONCLUSION

We identified regional factors of BP control in hypertensive patients from Ivanovo region of Russia. It is shown that individual medical education (in particular, medical advices) is the most important factor of optimal BP control. The intervention with antihypertensive therapy (beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics) facilitates the achievement of target BP. Comorbidity and age reduce the frequency of achieving the target BP.