A Community-Based Intervention for Reducing Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

In the HOPE 4 trial, an intervention led by nonphysician health workers lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, while increasing medication adherence and healthy behaviors.

Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but although there are cheap and readily available therapies, hypertension control remains poor across the globe. In the HOPE 4 trial (NCT01826019), investigators randomized 30 communities (1371 individuals) in Colombia and Malaysia to an intervention consisting of antihypertensive drugs, a statin, and simplified guidelines available on a tablet computer. Patients' mean age was 65; 56% were women, and 74% had a history of hypertension. The intervention was led by nonphysician health workers (NPHWs), supervised by local physicians and supported by participants' family and friends.

At 12 months, there was a reduction in the 10-year Framingham Risk Score for both th…

Reviewing Author

Fatima Rodriguez, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardNovoNordisk; HealthPals; Novartis; Amgen

EquityHealthPals; Carta

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association–Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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