The Hypertension Management Program: Identifying Opportunities for Improvement

Abstract

are aware of the condition and 53% are being treated for hypertension, yet only about 30% have blood pressure controlled to a level of <140/90 mm Hg. 2 Because it is possible to control hypertension with lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive medication regimens, these data strongly suggest that suboptimal medical management plays a major role in uncontrolled hypertension. A large majority of the nearly 50 million Americans with hypertension are diagnosed and treated in primary care settings. 3 Systems-related problems, such as a lack of provider follow-up or limited time for patient education, may be at the core of poor management of hypertension. 4 Methods for improving blood pressure control must be identified and applied systematically to be successful; however, data regarding specific factors associated with blood pressure control in real-world clinical settings are lacking. Most significantly, clinical outcomes are seldom measured to determine the true impact of health care management strategies. 5 Thus, both successful and unsuccessful strategies to improve blood pressure control are largely unidentified. This paper reviews elements associated with successful clinical outcomes following physician-oriented educational interventions, and describes the methods and introduces baseline and postintervention data from the Hypertension Management Program (HMP), an ongoing nationwide hypertension quality improvement program. HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMThe primary goal of this nationwide project is to improve hypertension management and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension enrolled in population-based health care settings. The overall objectives of the study are to determine current hypertension management strategies and level of blood pressure control; to identify and recommend specific medical management strategies to improve

The well-being and treatment satisfaction of diabetic patients in primary care

“…A 2003 study conducted in eight managed care organizations in the United States concluded that less than 50% of plan members diagnosed with hypertension met their blood pressure goal (JNC 6). This conclusion held even after various educational and awareness campaigns were initiated [ 26 ]. In addition, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) revealed that only 36.8% of patients (including those undiagnosed) were at their target blood pressure [ 27 ].…”

Blood Pressure Control and Pharmacotherapy Patterns in the United States Before and After the Release of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) Guidelines

“…This conclusion held even after various educational and awareness campaigns were initiated. 7 In addition, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) revealed that only 36.8% of patients (including those undiagnosed) were at their target BP. 8 Given the significant changes in JNC 7 and the fact that the most recent data on BP control in the United States was obtained before its release, an updated investigation of hypertension treatment patterns and control after JNC 7 is warranted.…”