A comprehensive intervention program proved effective for blood pressure (BP) control among hypertensive patients in Argentina, according to the results of the Hypertension Control Program in Argentina Trial (HCPIA) presented Nov. 14 during AHA 2016.

Jiang He, MD, et al., randomly assigned nine clinics in Argentina to implement a comprehensive intervention program and nine to continue usual care. The intervention program included health care provider education, BP audit and feedback, BP self-monitoring, community health worker-led health education and counseling, and a mobile phone-based health message intervention over 18-months. The primary outcome was a net change in systolic BP from baseline to follow-up, while the secondary outcomes included net change in diastolic BP and the proportion of controlled hypertension at 18 months.

The results of the trial show that systolic and diastolic BP were significantly reduced in the intervention group, compared to the control. Further, the proportion of controlled hypertension at follow-up was significantly increased in the intervention group.

The authors of the study add that “high adherence to antihypertensive medications (Morisky Score = 8) and intensification of antihypertensive medications over the 18-month intervention were significantly higher in the intervention group.”

Keywords: AHA16, American Heart Association, AHA Annual Scientific Sessions, Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure Determination, Hypertension, Poverty, Secondary Prevention

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