Phone calls for improving blood pressure control among hypertensive patients attending private medical practitioners in India: Findings from Mumbai hypertension project (original) (raw)

Rapid Intervention Through Telephone Encounters for Blood Pressure Control by Residents in an Outpatient Resident Clinic

Cureus, 2018

Introduction Sixty-seven million Americans have hypertension that costs the nation $47.5 billion each year. The aim of this study was to determine if regular phone calls by residents helped achieve better blood pressure control. Methods The study was a randomized open-labeled study in a resident-run outpatient clinic in Rochester, New York. A total of 57 poorly controlled hypertensives in the clinic were divided into two groups. All the patients received scheduled phone calls once every two weeks for a total of 24 weeks. In one group, the medications were adjusted over the phone and the other group was referred to be seen in the clinic for elevated blood pressures. Both the groups were compared to the usual standard of care group. Results Fifty-eight patients were recruited for the trial out of which 53 were used for the final data analysis. Eleven patients completed the trial and had a mean drop of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 28 and 11 mmHg with p < 0.01 and p < 0.03, respectively. Among the patients who did not complete the trial but answered at least one phone call, the mean drop of SBP and DBP was 29 and 8 mmHg with a p < 0.001 and p < 0.008, respectively. When these were compared to the usual standard of care group, the mean drop in

Hypertension in India

Journal of Hypertension, 2014

Background: A region-specific (urban and rural parts of north, east, west, and south India) systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension among Indian patients have not been done before.

Prevalence of hypertension among Indian adults: Results from the great India blood pressure survey

Objective: Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is limited data on hypertension prevalence in India. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of hypertension among Indian adults. Methods: A national level survey was conducted with fixed one-day blood pressure measurement camps across 24 states and union territories of India. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) 140 mmHg or a diastolic BP 90 mmHg or on treatment for hypertension. The prevalence was age-and gender-standardized according to the 2011 census population of India. Results: Blood pressure was recorded for 180,335 participants (33.2% women; mean age 40.6 ± 14.9 years). Among them, 8,898 (4.9%), 99,791 (55.3%), 35,694 (11.9%), 23,084 (12.8%), 9,989 (5.5%), and 2,878 (1.6%) participants were of the age group 18e19, 20e44, 45e54, 55e64, 65e74, and 75 years, respectively. Overall prevalence of hypertension was 30.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.5, 30.9) and the prevalence among women was 23.7% (95% CI: 23.3, 24). Prevalence adjusted for 2011 census population and the WHO reference population was 29.7% and 32.8%, respectively. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of hypertension, with almost one in every three Indian adult affected.

A Mobile-Phone Tele-Medicine System That Promotes Self-Management of Blood Pressure among Hypertensive Patients in Kirinyaga Sub County

The current practice adopted by hypertensive patients in managing hypertension is making frequent visits to a health center as recommended by medical specialists. However, very few patients adhere to this practice as it is time consuming and tiresome especially if they have to travel for long distances to have their BP checked. This practice is also not practical for critically-ill patients. Consequently, most patients neglect BP check-ups and therefore focus on medication alone. This puts the patients’ at risk as uncontrolled BP can lead to fatal complications. The overall objective of this research was to design, develop and pilot-test a mobile telemedicine system that helps patients’ to self-manage their BP condition from the comfort of their homes. Participatory action research design was used in this study. Testing for performance, usability and utility of the tele-medicine system was conducted.

Trends in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control: an 8-year follow-up study from rural North India

Scientific Reports

Hypertension is a major contributor to global CVD burden. LMICs including India is challenged with rising hypertension prevalence, yet limited studies are available on temporal change and incidence among community-cohorts. This study aimed to describe trends in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control over 8 years among a rural community-cohort from Haryana, India. The study also lends towards an analysis of incidence. Adults ≥ 30 years (N = 1542) recruited during baseline cross-sectional study between 2011 and 2014 were followed up after a median 8.1 years. At endline, demographic/lifestyle characteristics and blood pressure were re-examined. Overall median SBP significantly increased from 120 mmHg at baseline to 125.5 mmHg at endline (p < 0.001), while hypertension prevalence increased from 34.4% (95% CI 32.0–36.9) to 40.4% (95% CI 37.5–43.4) (p = 0.002). Age-standardized hypertension incidence was 30.2% (95% CI 26.7–35.2) over 8 years. Among hypertensive grou...

Hypertensive patients’ readiness to use of mobile phones and other information technological modes for improvingtheir compliance to doctors’ advice in Karachi

Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 2014

Objective: To determine the use of information technology (IT) & electronic media for improving compliance rate to doctors' advice in hypertensive patients in Karachi. Methods: Total 400 persons (200 males & 200 females) were randomly selected in six districts of Karachi. Data was collected through a pretested questionnaire. Following was sample criteria: age above 15 years, living in Karachi and ambulatory. Persons admitted in a hospital, individuals who were doing some physical activity during survey e.g. exercise, labor work etc., individual in stressed condition, non-cooperative individuals-not willing to get BP checked and fill questionnaire, and pregnant women were excluded. Those who did not sign the consent form were also excluded. SPSS was used for data analysis and descriptive statistics was employed for sensitivity analysis. Results: For healthcare awareness, people look for health programs on radio and TV channels. Short Message Service (SMS) and phone are highly appreciated by patients for reminders. To increase compliance to doctors' advice, less educated people prefer phone calls over SMS whereas educated individuals favor SMS. Although price of medicine has not emerged as a major contributing factor for non-compliance, discount on medicinal products is highly appreciated by the patients. Conclusion: The study concludes that there is a widespread awareness of high blood pressure in the sample population of Karachi e.g. 72.5%. People consider reminder message system i.e. Calls and Short Messaging Service (SMS) would help them in improving compliance to doctors' advice.

Supplemental material for Phone-based intervention for blood pressure control among Ghanaian stroke survivors: A pilot randomized controlled trial

2018

Supplemental Material for Phone-based intervention for blood pressure control among Ghanaian stroke survivors: A pilot randomized controlled trial by Fred Stephen Sarfo, Frank Treiber, Mulugeta Gebregziabher, Sheila Adamu, Michelle Nichols, Arti Singh, Vida Obese, Osei Sarfo-Kantanka, Asumadu Sakyi, Nyantakyi Adu-Darko, Raelle Tagge, Marian Agyei-Frimpong, Naomi Kwarteng, Elizabeth Badu, Nathaniel Mensah, Michael Ampofo, Carolyn Jenkins, Bruce Ovbiagele and on behalf of PINGS Team in International Journal of Stroke

Awareness and Approach towards Hypertension Management among General Practitioners of Western Vadodara

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, 2014

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor contributing to premature mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.To decrease morbidity and mortality from HTN, timely diagnosis of the disease and its complications, urgent treatment and referrals are required. General Practioners (GPs) are the first tier of the health care system in India and have a wide scope of practice. It is important to know the awareness and approach of primary care physicians to hypertension in their daily practice as compared to standard practice recommendations and guidelines, to identify targets for improvements. With this objective we decided to interview them personally and analyse their approach. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 80 general practitioners (GPs) of the western part of Vadodara city with the use of a questionnaire prepared from JNC-7 guidelines and standard medical books. Seventy seven [97.55%] GPs completed the questionnaire and their responses were statistically analysed. Results: Twenty percent of GPs were not applying BP cuff properly for BP measurement. Only 18% and 16.6 % could diagnose isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) and isolated systolic hypertension respectively (ISH) and 21% and 29% would have considered treatment of IDH and ISH respectively.48% consider treating pre-hypertension using non-pharmacological measures. Only 21% use thiazide diuretics for uncomplicated HTN and 50% use beta-blockers in coronary artery disease patients. Conclusion: In our study, most of the GPs in western Vadodara are well aware and updated about the initial lab investigations,nonpharmacological measures and complications of HTN but lack an effective approach towards history taking for HTN,technique for measurement of blood pressure, diagnosis and treatment of IDH and ISH. Pre-hypertension and systolic and diastolic hypertension is under-treated and thiazide diuretics are underutilized. This study can be used to identify targets and approaches to improve hypertension management at the primary care level.