Interventions used to improve control of blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
BACKGROUND
It is well recognized that patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) in the community frequently fail to meet treatment goals- a condition labeled as "uncontrolled" hypertension. The optimal way in which to organize and deliver care to patients who have hypertension so that they reach treatment goals has not been clearly identified.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of interventions to improve control of blood pressure in patients with elevated blood pressure. To evaluate the ability of reminders to improve the follow-up of patients with elevated blood pressure.


METHODS
All-language search of all articles (any year) in the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR), Medline and Embase from June 2000.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with hypertension that evaluated the following interventions: (1) self-monitoring (2) educational interventions directed to the patient (3) educational interventions directed to the health professional (4) health professional (nurse or pharmacist) led care (5) organisational interventions that aimed to improve the delivery of care (6) appointment reminder systems. OUTCOMES ASSESSED WERE: (1) mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (2) control of blood pressure (3) proportion of patients followed up at clinic.


METHODS
Two authors extracted data independently and in duplicate and assessed each study according to the criteria outlined by the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook.


RESULTS
59 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of included studies was variable. An organized system of regular review linked to vigorous antihypertensive drug therapy was shown to reduce blood pressure (weighted mean difference -8.2/-4.2 mmHg, -11.7/-6.5 mmHg, -10.6/-7.6 mmHg for 3 strata of entry blood pressure) and all-cause mortality at five years follow-up (6.38% versus 7.78%, difference 1.4%) in a single large RCT- the Hypertension Detection and Follow-Up study. Other interventions had variable effects. Self-monitoring was associated with moderate net reduction in diastolic blood pressure (weighted mean difference (WMD): -2.03 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.69 to -1.38 mmHg, respectively. Appointment reminders increased the proportion of individuals who attended for follow-up. RCTs of educational interventions directed at patients or health professionals were heterogeneous but appeared unlikely to be associated with large net reductions in blood pressure by themselves. Health professional (nurse or pharmacist) led care may be a promising way of delivering care, with the majority of RCTs being associated with improved blood pressure control, but requires further evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Family practices and community-based clinics need to have an organized system of regular follow-up and review of their hypertensive patients. Antihypertensive drug therapy should be implemented by means of a systematic stepped care approach when patients do not reach target blood pressure levels.
Fahey
T
T
Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Dundee, MacKenzie Building, Kirsty Semple Way, Dundee, UK, DD2 4AD. t.p.fahey@chs.dundee.ac.uk
Schroeder
K
K
Ebrahim
S
S
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents