Proceedings From a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workshop to Control Hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension treatment and control prevent more cardiovascular events than management of other modifiable risk factors. Although the age-adjusted proportion of US adults with controlled blood pressure (BP) defined as <140/90 mm Hg, improved from 31.8% in 1999–2000 to 48.5% in 2007–2008, it remained stable through 2013–2014 and declined to 43.7% in 2017–2018. To address the rapid decline in hypertension control, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened a virtual workshop with multidisciplinary national experts. Also, the group sought to identify opportunities to reverse the adverse trend and further improve hypertension control. The workshop immediately preceded the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension, which recognized a stagnation in progress with hypertension control. The presentations and discussions included potential reasons for the decline and challenges in hypertension control, possible “big ideas,” and multisector approaches that could reverse the current trend while addressing knowledge gaps and research priorities. The broad set of “big ideas” was comprised of various activities that may improve hypertension control, including: interventions to engage patients, promotion of self-measured BP monitoring with clinical support, supporting team-based care, implementing telehealth, enhancing community–clinical linkages, advancing precision population health, developing tailored public health messaging, simplifying hypertension treatment, using process and outcomes quality metrics to foster accountability and efficiency, improving access to high-quality health care, addressing social determinants of health, supporting cardiovascular public health and research, and lowering financial barriers to hypertension control.

Increasing Equity of Physical Activity Promotion for Optimal Cardiovascular Health in Adults: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

“…These CVH benefits associated with physical activity are applicable to a wide range of individuals. 45 Data presented in this section have also shown that some underresourced groups (eg, Black adults, adults in rural settings) who have poor CVH 30,49 also have low physical activity levels. 13 The intersection of low activity levels and poor CVH in underresourced groups highlights the potential for physical activity promotion to reduce CVH disparities.…”

Hypertension Control Among US Adults, 2009 to 2012 Through 2017 to 2020, and the Impact of COVID-19

“…The authors discussed several constructive actions to reverse the decline in hypertension control, consistent with the October 2020 Call to Action to Control Hypertension by the US Surgeon General and explored more fully in another report. 7 Constructive action, supported by several key findings in the current report, 1 is imperative as cardiovascular events are rising in the US population. While the COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to ease, disparities in hypertension control were magnified during COVID-19.…”

The Role of Confidence and Knowledge in Intentions to (Not) Seek Care for Hypertension: Evidence From a National Survey

“…29 In addition, hypertension control may be improved through patient communications and community outreach tailored to engage individuals, promoting home blood pressure monitoring with clinical support, improving access to high-quality health care, and addressing social and financial barriers to hypertension control. [30][31][32]…”