Improving hypertension outcome measurement in low- and middle-income countries

Rachel Zack, Oluwakemi Okunade, Elizabeth Olson, Matthew Salt, Celso Amodeo, Raghupathy Anchala, Otavio Berwanger, Norm Campbell, Yook Chin Chia, Albertino Damasceno, Thi Nam Phuong Do, Anastase Tamdja Dzudie, Manuela Fiuza, Fareed Mirza, Dorothea Nitsch, Gbenga Ogedegbe, Vladislav Podpalov, Ernesto L. Schiffrin, António Vaz Carneiro, Peter Lamptey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

High blood pressure is the leading modifiable risk factor for mortality, accounting for nearly 1 in 5 deaths worldwide and 1 in 11 in low-income countries. Hypertension control remains a challenge, especially in low-resource settings. One approach to improvement is the prioritization of patient-centered care. However, consensus on the outcomes that matter most to patients is lacking. We aimed to define a standard set of patient-centered outcomes for evaluating hypertension management in low- and middle-income countries. The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement convened a Working Group of 18 experts and patients representing 15 countries. We used a modified Delphi process to reach consensus on a set of outcomes, case-mix variables, and a timeline to guide data collection. Literature reviews, patient interviews, a patient validation survey, and an open review by hypertension experts informed the set. The set contains 18 clinical and patient-reported outcomes that reflect patient priorities and evidence-based hypertension management and case-mix variables to allow comparisons between providers. The domains included are hypertension control, cardiovascular complications, health-related quality of life, financial burden of care, medication burden, satisfaction with care, health literacy, and health behaviors. We present a core list of outcomes for evaluating hypertension care. They account for the unique challenges healthcare providers and patients face in low- and middle-income countries, yet are relevant to all settings. We believe that it is a vital step toward international benchmarking in hypertension care and, ultimately, value-based hypertension management.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)990-997
Number of pages8
JournalHypertension
Volume73
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2019

Keywords

  • hypertension
  • patient-centered care
  • quality of life

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine

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