DALLAS,TX, June 15, 2023 — Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects almost half of all people in the U.S. and can lead to serious health issues, including heart attack, stroke and kidney problems.[1] Monitoring your blood pressure levels regularly is a key part of managing it, and the American Heart Association, with support from Elevance Health Foundation, is working to ensure more people have access to the tools needed to check their blood pressure at home.
“As high blood pressure disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic and Indigenous populations in the U.S., the American Heart Association continues its commitment to improve health equity nationwide, we strive to ensure that everyone has access to resources for a healthier life,” said American Heart Association volunteer president Michelle A. Albert, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, the Walter A. Haas-Lucie Stern endowed chair in cardiology, professor of medicine and admissions dean at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. “We appreciate the support from Elevance Health Foundation which enables us to work in the communities where the need is greatest.”
A recent poll by the Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives for all, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, was designed to evaluate patient perceptions and barriers to blood pressure management in the home setting.[2] The survey participants—patients with high blood pressure at clinics in under-resourced areas throughout the U.S.—were provided with blood pressure kits to monitor their blood pressure at home as part of the Building Healthier, Safer Communities Together initiative supported by Elevance Health Foundation More than three quarters (88%) of the participants said that they planned to check their blood pressure levels at least once daily, and over half of the respondents (64%) said they believe that monitoring their blood pressure at home will help to improve their overall health.[3]
The program is a community-based initiative focused on blood pressure control in medically under-resourced communities and is one component of a nationwide project with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and other community clinics to facilitate and provide health education, guidance and resources to patients.[4]
“Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure, which is why implementing interventions that target health measures – such as increased awareness and management of blood pressure – are crucial to not only improving the health of people living in historically under-resourced communities, but advancing equity for all,” said Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., chief health officer at Elevance Health. “Through this initiative, more than 3,500 patient care kits are in the hands of people at the highest risk, allowing them to monitor their blood pressure remotely at home.”
According to research, community health workers can make a difference in improving patients’ access to care and treatment for health concerns such as high blood pressure. Community health workers can aid their patients and communities in various roles beyond just patient medical care, including providing health education, linking people with social services, and improving overall patient-health professional communication.
Communication is important, according to many of the survey responses. When patients were asked what may help them monitor their blood pressure at home, 38% replied that regular in-person consultations with a doctor or a nurse would be helpful, and 26% responded that more opportunities for education on blood pressure and hypertension would be helpful.
Survey methodology
Adult patients from 11 clinics in nine markets throughout the U.S. who were diagnosed with high blood pressure and received a self-monitoring blood pressure kit were invited to participate in the survey. The survey was planned to identify gaps in knowledge of patients encouraged to regularly monitor their blood pressure at home, and is part of the Building Healthier, Safer Communities Together (BHSCT) program. Through the BHSCT initiative, the American Heart Association provided primary healthcare professionals with 350 patient care kits in 16 under-resourced target communities, Baton Rouge, La., New Orleans, La., Houston, Atlanta, Ga., Des Moines, Nashville, Tenn., Newport, Tenn., Los Angeles, Calif., Seattle, Wash., St. Louis, Mo., New York, N.Y., Indianapolis, Ind., Miami, Fla. and Cincinnati, to distribute to their high-risk patients in support of remote blood pressure monitoring. The purpose of this evaluation is to use survey-based data collection to assess participant characteristics, perceptions and barriers to blood pressure management. This evaluation will inform the program for the next two years.
The program is a community-based initiative focused on blood pressure control in medically under-resourced communities and is supported by the Elevance Health Foundation. Surveys were provided in both English and Spanish, and participants had the option to complete the 18-question survey in electronic form on a tablet during a clinic visit, or in a paper format. Data was collected between August 2021 and June 2022 and analyzed by the Evaluation Team in the Qualtrics system on behalf of the American Heart Association. A total of 317 participants attempted the survey, 80% of whom were age 45 and older. Most of the responses received were from the electronic version of the survey (64%).[7] The majority of respondents identified as female (55%), aged 45-64 (59%), and as being of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (58%).
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About the Elevance Health Foundation
Elevance Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Elevance Health, Inc. The Foundation works to advance health equity by focusing on improving the health of the socially vulnerable through partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal child health; substance use disorder; and food as medicine. Additionally, the Foundation also responds to disasters when our communities need us the most. Through its key areas of focus, the Foundation strategically aligns with Elevance Health’s focus on community health and becoming a lifetime, trusted health partner that is fueled by its purpose to improve the health of humanity. The Foundation coordinates with the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about Elevance Health Foundation, please visit www.elevancehealth.foundation or follow us @ElevanceFND on Twitter and Elevance Health Foundation on Facebook.
For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173
Laurin Paris: 214-706-4831; laurin.paris@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
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