Results of a Remotely Delivered Hypertension and Lipid Program in More Than 10 000 Patients Across a Diverse Health Care Network

Relationship between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China: a population-based cohort study

PURPOSE

To investigate the correlation between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension among adults aged 18 or above in southwest China.

METHODS

A multistage proportional stratified cluster sampling method was employed to recruited 9280 adult residents from 12 counties in southwest China, with all participants in the cohort tracked from 2016 to 2020. The questionnaire survey gathered information on demographics, lifestyle habits, and household income. The physical exam recorded height, weight, and blood pressure. Biochemical tests measured cholesterol levels. The chi-square test was employed to assess the statistical differences among categorical variables, while the Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension.

RESULTS

The finally effective sample size for the cohort study was 3546 participants, after excluding 5734 people who met the exclusion criteria. Adults in the highest household income group had a significantly lower risk of hypertension compared to those in the lowest income group (HR = 0.636, 95% CI: 0.478-0.845). Besides, when compared to individuals in the illiterate population, the risk of hypertension among adults with elementary school, junior high school, senior high school and associate degree educational level decreased respectively by 34.4% (HR = 0.656, 95%CI: 0.533-0.807), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.436-0.697), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.405-0.750), 46.1% (HR = 0.539, 95%CI: 0. 340-0.854). After conducting a thorough analysis of socioeconomic status, compared with individuals with a score of 6 or less, the risk of hypertension in participants with scores of 8, 10, 11, 12, and greater than 12 decreased respectively by 23.9% (HR = 0.761, 95%CI: 0.598-0.969), 29.7% (HR = 0.703, 95%CI: 0.538-0.919), 34.0% (HR = 0.660, 95%CI: 0.492-0.885), 34.3% (HR = 0.657, 95%CI: 0.447-0.967), 43.9% (HR = 0.561, 95%CI: 0.409-0.769).

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate a negative correlation between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China, suggesting that individuals with higher socioeconomic status are less likely to develop hypertension.

Methods, rationale, and design for a remote pharmacist and navigator-driven disease management program to improve guideline-directed medical therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes at elevated cardiovascular and/or kidney risk

AIM

Describe the rationale for and design of Diabetes Remote Intervention to improVe use of Evidence-based medications (DRIVE), a remote medication management program designed to initiate and titrate guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at elevated cardiovascular (CV) and/or kidney risk by leveraging non-physician providers.

METHODS

An electronic health record based algorithm is used to identify patients with T2D and either established atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD), high risk for ASCVD, chronic kidney disease, and/or heart failure within our health system. Patients are invited to participate and randomly assigned to either simultaneous education and medication management, or a period of education prior to medication management. Patient navigators (trained, non-licensed staff) are the primary points of contact while a pharmacist or nurse practitioner reviews and authorizes each medication initiation and titration under an institution-approved collaborative drug therapy management protocol with supervision from a cardiologist and/or endocrinologist. Patient engagement is managed through software to support communication, automation, workflow, and standardization.

CONCLUSION

We are testing a remote, navigator-driven, pharmacist-led, and physician-overseen management strategy to optimize GDMT for T2D as a population-level strategy to close the gap between guidelines and clinical practice for patients with T2D at elevated CV and/or kidney risk.

New technologies for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases

Telemedicine enables the remote provision of medical care through information and communication technologies, facilitating data transmission, patient participation, promotion of heart-healthy habits, diagnosis, early detection of acute decompensation, and monitoring and follow-up of cardiovascular diseases. Wearable devices have multiple clinical applications, ranging from arrhythmia detection to remote monitoring of chronic diseases and risk factors. Integrating these technologies safely and effectively into routine clinical practice will require a multidisciplinary approach. Technological advances and data management will increase telemonitoring strategies, which will allow greater accessibility and equity, as well as more efficient and accurate patient care. However, there are still unresolved issues, such as identifying the most appropriate technological infrastructure, integrating these data into medical records, and addressing the digital divide, which can hamper patients' adoption of remote care. This article provides an updated overview of digital tools for a more comprehensive approach to atrial fibrillation, heart failure, risk factors, and treatment adherence.

Risk Stratification and Treatment of Obesity for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review, we discuss contemporary and emerging approaches for risk stratification and management of excess adiposity for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Obesity is simultaneously a pandemic-scale disease and major risk factor for the incidence and progression of a wide range of cardiometabolic conditions, but risk stratification and treatment remain clinically challenging. However, sex-, race-, and ethnicity-sensitive anthropometric measures, body composition-focused imaging, and health burden-centric staging systems have emerged as important facilitators of holistic risk prediction. Further, expanding therapeutic approaches, including comprehensive lifestyle programs, anti-obesity pharmacotherapies, device/endoscopy-based interventions, metabolic surgery, and novel healthcare delivery resources offer new empowerment for cardiovascular risk reduction in individuals with obesity. Personalized risk stratification and weight management are central to reducing the lifetime prevalence and impact of cardiovascular disease. Further evidence informing long-term safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of novel approaches targeting obesity are critically needed.

Implementation of a Scalable Online Weight Management Programme in Clinical Settings: Protocol for the PROPS 2.0 Programme (Partnerships for Reducing Overweight and Obesity with Patient-Centered Strategies 2.0)

INTRODUCTION

There is an urgent need for scalable strategies for treating overweight and obesity in clinical settings. PROPS 2.0 (Partnerships for Reducing Overweight and Obesity with Patient-Centered Strategies 2.0) aims to adapt and implement the combined intervention from the PROPS Study at scale, in a diverse cross-section of patients and providers.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We are implementing PROPS 2.0 across a variety of clinics at Brigham and Women's Hospital, targeting enrolment of 5000 patients. Providers can refer patients or patients can self-refer. Eligible patients must be ≥20 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 or a BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2 plus another cardiovascular risk factor or obesity-related condition. After enrolment, patients register for the RestoreHealth online programme/app (HealthFleet Inc.) and participate for 12 months. Patients can engage with the programme and receive personalized feedback from a coach. Patient navigators help to enrol patients, enter updates in the electronic health record, and refer patients to additional resources. The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework is guiding the evaluation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Mass General Brigham Human Research Committee approved this protocol. An implementation guide will be created and disseminated, to help other sites adopt the intervention in the future.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT0555925.

Novel Prediction Equations for Absolute Risk Assessment of Total Cardiovascular Disease Incorporating Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a novel construct recently defined by the American Heart Association in response to the high prevalence of metabolic and kidney disease. Epidemiological data demonstrate higher absolute risk of both atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and heart failure as an individual progresses from CKM stage 0 to stage 3, but optimal strategies for risk assessment need to be refined. Absolute risk assessment with the goal to match type and intensity of interventions with predicted risk and expected treatment benefit remains the cornerstone of primary prevention. Given the growing number of therapies in our armamentarium that simultaneously address all 3 CKM axes, novel risk prediction equations are needed that incorporate predictors and outcomes relevant to the CKM context. This should also include social determinants of health, which are key upstream drivers of CVD, to more equitably estimate and address risk. This scientific statement summarizes the background, rationale, and clinical implications for the newly developed sex-specific, race-free risk equations: PREVENT (AHA Predicting Risk of CVD Events). The PREVENT equations enable 10- and 30-year risk estimates for total CVD (composite of atherosclerotic CVD and heart failure), include estimated glomerular filtration rate as a predictor, and adjust for competing risk of non-CVD death among adults 30 to 79 years of age. Additional models accommodate enhanced predictive utility with the addition of CKM factors when clinically indicated for measurement (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and hemoglobin A1c) or social determinants of health (social deprivation index) when available. Approaches to implement risk-based prevention using PREVENT across various settings are discussed.

Effects of Remote Patient Monitoring Use on Care Outcomes Among Medicare Patients With Hypertension : An Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a promising tool for improving chronic disease management. Use of RPM for hypertension monitoring is growing rapidly, raising concerns about increased spending. However, the effects of RPM are still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate RPM's effect on hypertension care and spending.

DESIGN

Matched observational study emulating a longitudinal, cluster randomized trial. After matching, effect estimates were derived from a regression analysis comparing changes in outcomes from 2019 to 2021 for patients with hypertension at high-RPM practices versus those at matched control practices with little RPM use.

SETTING

Traditional Medicare.

PATIENTS

Patients with hypertension.

INTERVENTION

Receipt of care at a high-RPM practice.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcomes included hypertension medication use (medication fills, adherence, and unique medications received), outpatient visit use, testing and imaging use, hypertension-related acute care use, and total hypertension-related spending.

RESULTS

192 high-RPM practices (with 19 978 patients with hypertension) were matched to 942 low-RPM control practices (with 95 029 patients with hypertension). Compared with patients with hypertension at matched low-RPM practices, patients with hypertension at high-RPM practices had a 3.3% (95% CI, 1.9% to 4.8%) relative increase in hypertension medication fills, a 1.6% (CI, 0.7% to 2.5%) increase in days' supply, and a 1.3% (CI, 0.2% to 2.4%) increase in unique medications received. Patients at high-RPM practices also had fewer hypertension-related acute care encounters (-9.3% [CI, -20.6% to 2.1%]) and reduced testing use (-5.9% [CI, -11.9% to 0.0%]). However, these patients also saw increases in primary care physician outpatient visits (7.2% [CI, -0.1% to 14.6%]) and a $274 [CI, $165 to $384]) increase in total hypertension-related spending.

LIMITATION

Lacked blood pressure data; residual confounding.

CONCLUSION

Patients in high-RPM practices had improved hypertension care outcomes but increased spending.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Mobile Health Intervention in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Clinical pharmacists and health coaches using mobile health (mHealth) tools, such as telehealth and text messaging, may improve blood glucose levels in African American and Latinx populations with type 2 diabetes.

Objective

To determine whether clinical pharmacists and health coaches using mHealth tools can improve hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial included 221 African American or Latinx patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated HbA1c (≥8%) from an academic medical center in Chicago. Adult patients aged 21 to 75 years were enrolled and randomized from March 23, 2017, through January 8, 2020. Patients randomized to the intervention group received mHealth diabetes support for 1 year followed by monitored usual diabetes care during a second year (follow-up duration, 24 months). Those randomized to the waiting list control group received usual diabetes care for 1 year followed by the mHealth diabetes intervention during a second year.

Interventions

The mHealth diabetes intervention included remote support (eg, review of glucose levels and medication intensification) from clinical pharmacists via a video telehealth platform. Health coach activities (eg, addressing barriers to medication use and assisting pharmacists in medication reconciliation and telehealth) occurred in person at participant homes and via phone calls and text messaging. Usual diabetes care comprised routine health care from patients' primary care physicians, including medication reconciliation and adjustment.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Outcomes included HbA1c (primary outcome), blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, health-related quality of life, diabetes distress, diabetes self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, social support, medication-taking behavior, and diabetes self-care measured every 6 months.

Results

Among the 221 participants (mean [SD] age, 55.2 [9.5] years; 154 women [69.7%], 148 African American adults [67.0%], and 73 Latinx adults [33.0%]), the baseline mean (SD) HbA1c level was 9.23% (1.53%). Over the initial 12 months, HbA1c improved by a mean of -0.79 percentage points in the intervention group compared with -0.24 percentage points in the waiting list control group (treatment effect, -0.62; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.19; P = .005). Over the subsequent 12 months, a significant change in HbA1c was observed in the waiting list control group after they received the same intervention (mean change, -0.57 percentage points; P = .002), while the intervention group maintained benefit (mean change, 0.17 percentage points; P = .35). No between-group differences were found in adjusted models for secondary outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, HbA1c levels improved among African American and Latinx adults with type 2 diabetes. These findings suggest that a clinical pharmacist and health coach-delivered mobile health intervention can improve blood glucose levels in African American and Latinx populations and may help reduce racial and ethnic disparities.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02990299.

Protocol: Implementation evaluation of a combination intervention for sustainable blood pressure control in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (IMPACT BP): A three-arm, unblinded, parallel group individually randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is the primary risk factor for stroke and heart disease, which are leading causes of death in South Africa. Despite the availability of treatments, there is an implementation gap in how best to deliver hypertension care in this resource-limited region.

METHODS

We describe a three-arm parallel group individually randomized control trial to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a technology-supported, community-based intervention to improve blood pressure control among people with hypertension in rural KwaZulu-Natal. The study will compare three strategies: 1) standard of care (SOC arm) clinic-based management, 2) home-based blood pressure management supported by community blood pressure monitors (CBPM arm) and a mobile health application to record blood pressure readings and enable clinic-based nurses to remotely manage care, and 3) an identical strategy to the CBPM arm, except that participants will use a cellular blood pressure cuff, which automatically transmits completed readings over cellular networks directly to clinic-based nurses (eCBPM+ arm). The primary effectiveness outcome is change in blood pressure from enrollment to 6 months. The secondary effectiveness outcome is the proportion of participants with blood pressure control at 6 months. Acceptability, fidelity, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of the interventions will also be assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this protocol, we report the development of interventions in partnership with the South Africa Department of Health, a description of the technology-enhanced interventions, and details of the study design so that our intervention and evaluation can inform similar efforts in rural, resource-limited settings.

PROTOCOL

Version 3 November 9th, 2022.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov Trial Registration: NCT05492955 SAHPRA Trial Number: N20211201. SANCTR Number: DOH-27-112,022-4895.

From Revolution to Evolution: Early Experience with Virtual-First, Outcomes-Based Primary Care

Primary care is foundational to health systems and a common good. The workforce is threatened by outdated approaches to organizing work, payment, and technology. Primary care work should be restructured to support a team-based model, optimized to efficiently achieve the best population health outcomes. In a virtual-first, outcomes-based primary care model, a majority of professional time for primary care team members is protected for virtual, asynchronous patient interactions, collaboration across clinical disciplines, and real-time management of patients with acute and complex concerns. Payments must be re-structured to cover the cost of, and reward the value created by, this advanced model. Technology investments should shift from legacy electronic health records to patient relationship management systems, built to support continuous, outcome-based care. These changes enable primary care team members to focus on building engaged, trusting relationships with patients and their families and collaborating on complex management decisions, and reconnecting team members with joy in clinical practice.

Prospective Cohort Study of Remote Patient Monitoring with and without Care Coordination for Hypertension in Primary Care

BACKGROUND

Out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurements contribute valuable information for guiding clinical management of hypertension. Measurements from home devices can be directly transmitted to patients' electronic health record for use in remote monitoring programs.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare in primary care practice care coordinator-assisted implementation of remote patient monitoring (RPM) for hypertension to RPM implementation alone and to usual care.

METHODS

This was a pragmatic observational cohort study. Patients aged 65 to 85 years with Medicare insurance from two populations were included: those with uncontrolled hypertension and a general hypertension group seeing primary care physicians (PCPs) within one health system. Exposures were clinic-level availability of RPM plus care coordination, RPM alone, or usual care. At two clinics (13 PCPs), nurse care coordinators with PCP approval offered RPM to patients with uncontrolled office BP and assisted with initiation. At two clinics (39 PCPs), RPM was at PCPs' discretion. Twenty clinics continued usual care. Main measures were controlling high BP (<140/90 mm Hg), last office systolic blood pressure (SBP), and proportion with antihypertensive medication intensification.

RESULTS

Among the Medicare cohorts with uncontrolled hypertension, 16.7% (39/234) of patients from the care coordination clinics were prescribed RPM versus <1% (4/600) at noncare coordination sites. RPM-enrolled care coordination group patients had higher baseline SBP than the noncare coordination group (148.8 vs. 140.0 mm Hg). After 6 months, in the uncontrolled hypertension cohorts the prevalences of controlling high BP were 32.5% (RPM with care coordination), 30.7 % (RPM alone), and 27.1% (usual care); multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 1.63 (1.12-2.39; p = 0.011) and 1.29 (0.98-1.69; p = 0.068) compared with usual care, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Care coordination facilitated RPM enrollment among poorly controlled hypertension patients and may improve hypertension control in primary care among Medicare patients.

Innovative Remote Management Solutions for the Control of Hypertension

We stand at a critical juncture in the delivery of health care for hypertension. Blood pressure control rates have stagnated, and traditional health care is failing. Fortunately, hypertension is exceptionally well-suited to remote management, and innovative digital solutions are proliferating. Early strategies arose with the spread of digital medicine, long before the COVID-19 pandemic forced lasting changes to the way medicine is practiced. Highlighting one contemporary example, this review explores salient features of remote management hypertensive programs, including: an automated algorithm to guide clinical decisions, home (as opposed to office) blood pressure measurements, an interdisciplinary care team, and robust information technology and analytics. Dozens of emerging hypertension management solutions are contributing to a highly fragmented and competitive landscape. Beyond viability, profit and scalability are critical. We explore the challenges impeding large-scale acceptance of these programs and conclude with a hopeful look to the future when remote hypertension care will have dramatic impact on global cardiovascular health.

Coordinated Care to Optimize Cardiovascular Preventive Therapies in Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Evidence-based therapies to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in adults with type 2 diabetes are underused in clinical practice.

Objective

To assess the effect of a coordinated, multifaceted intervention of assessment, education, and feedback vs usual care on the proportion of adults with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prescribed all 3 groups of recommended, evidence-based therapies (high-intensity statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] or angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs], and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 [SGLT2] inhibitors and/or glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists [GLP-1RAs]).

Design, Setting, and Participants

Cluster randomized clinical trial with 43 US cardiology clinics recruiting participants from July 2019 through May 2022 and follow-up through December 2022. The participants were adults with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease not already taking all 3 groups of evidence-based therapies.

Interventions

Assessing local barriers, developing care pathways, coordinating care, educating clinicians, reporting data back to the clinics, and providing tools for participants (n = 459) vs usual care per practice guidelines (n = 590).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the proportion of participants prescribed all 3 groups of recommended therapies at 6 to 12 months after enrollment. The secondary outcomes included changes in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors and a composite outcome of all-cause death or hospitalization for myocardial infarction, stroke, decompensated heart failure, or urgent revascularization (the trial was not powered to show these differences).

Results

Of 1049 participants enrolled (459 at 20 intervention clinics and 590 at 23 usual care clinics), the median age was 70 years and there were 338 women (32.2%), 173 Black participants (16.5%), and 90 Hispanic participants (8.6%). At the last follow-up visit (12 months for 97.3% of participants), those in the intervention group were more likely to be prescribed all 3 therapies (173/457 [37.9%]) vs the usual care group (85/588 [14.5%]), which is a difference of 23.4% (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.38 [95% CI, 2.49 to 7.71]; P < .001) and were more likely to be prescribed each of the 3 therapies (change from baseline in high-intensity statins from 66.5% to 70.7% for intervention vs from 58.2% to 56.8% for usual care [adjusted OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.06-2.83]; ACEIs or ARBs: from 75.1% to 81.4% for intervention vs from 69.6% to 68.4% for usual care [adjusted OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.14-2.91]; SGLT2 inhibitors and/or GLP-1RAs: from 12.3% to 60.4% for intervention vs from 14.5% to 35.5% for usual care [adjusted OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 2.08-4.64]). The intervention was not associated with changes in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors. The composite secondary outcome occurred in 23 of 457 participants (5%) in the intervention group vs 40 of 588 participants (6.8%) in the usual care group (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.46 to 1.33]).

Conclusions and Relevance

A coordinated, multifaceted intervention increased prescription of 3 groups of evidence-based therapies in adults with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03936660.

The importance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurement and control as performance measures: A joint Clinical Perspective from the National Lipid Association and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology

Despite the established role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the persistence of CVD as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, national quality assurance metrics no longer include LDL-C measurement as a required performance metric. This clinical perspective reviews the history of LDL-C as a quality and performance metric and the events that led to its replacement. It also presents patient, healthcare provider, and health system rationales for re-establishing LDL-C measurement as a performance measure to improve cholesterol control in high-risk groups and to stem the rising tide of CVD morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular care disparities, and related healthcare costs.

The importance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurement and control as performance measures: A joint clinical perspective from the National Lipid Association and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology

Despite the established role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the persistence of CVD as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, national quality assurance metrics no longer include LDL-C measurement as a required performance metric. This clinical perspective reviews the history of LDL-C as a quality and performance metric and the events that led to its replacement. It also presents patient, healthcare provider, and health system rationales for re-establishing LDL-C measurement as a performance measure to improve cholesterol control in high-risk groups and to stem the rising tide of CVD morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular care disparities, and related healthcare costs.