Low-cost care model reduces blood pressure in high-risk populations

An NIH-funded clinical trial found a team-based, low-cost intervention at federally qualified health centers reduced systolic blood pressure by more than 15 mm Hg compared with about 9 mm Hg with enhanced usual care among low-income adults; the program averaged about $760 per patient.

A National Institutes of Health–supported clinical trial tested a scalable, team-based care strategy for treating high blood pressure in low-income patients at federally qualified health centers. The trial combined intensified blood-pressure management, provider feedback, health coaching, and home monitoring. Hypertension remains a common preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and control rates are lower among lower-income Americans. The study aimed to assess whether a coordinated, affordable program could improve blood pressure control in real-world health centers. Key findings: - The trial enrolled more than 1,270 participants aged 40 or older at 36 HRSA-funded or designated federally qualified health centers in Louisiana and Mississippi. - Participants qualified with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg without medication or ≥130 mm Hg with medication. - The team-based intervention reduced systolic blood pressure by more than 15 mm Hg versus about 9 mm Hg with enhanced usual care that included physician education. - At 18 months, 21.8% of the intervention group had systolic blood pressure <120 mm Hg compared with 15.1% in the control group; 47.7% versus 36.4% had systolic blood pressure <130 mm Hg. - The average cost of the team-based intervention was about $760 per patient, and researchers noted prior estimates that the observed difference in blood pressure could translate into roughly a 10% reduction in cardiovascular events. Summary: The trial indicates a coordinated, team-based model in community health centers can lower systolic blood pressure among low-income adults and may be delivered at modest cost. Researchers report these strategies can be scaled to other primary care settings; broader implementation timing and rollout are undetermined at this time.