RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Government-led, population-wide initiatives are crucial for advancing the management of hypertension - a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. An urban population health initiative was conducted against this backdrop, focussing on hypertension in the primary health system in São Paulo, Brazil. Within the frame of the initiative and under the supervision and leadership of the municipal health authorities, a situational analysis was conducted on the needs in hypertension management, marking the first phase of a Design Thinking process. This article describes the situational analysis process and presents the identified elements to be strengthened considering hypertension diagnosis, treatment and control. METHODS: First, a mixed-methods approach was used, starting with a literature review of municipal hypertension data followed by meetings (N = 20) with the local public health administration to assess health system level components. To investigate activities on hypertension diagnosis, treatment and control, nine primary healthcare units were selected from two districts of São Paulo city- Itaquera and Penha- which received an online form addressed to managers, participated in conversation circles of staff and patients, and underwent shadowing of community health agents. RESULTS: Data gave rise to two main outputs: (i) a patient care journey map; and (ii) a matrix summarizing the identified needs at patient, healthcare professional and health system level for diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension. Patient awareness and knowledge of hypertension was found to be insufficient and its management needs to be improved. For health professionals, disease awareness, technical training, more time dedicated to patients, and simplified guidelines and clinical decision-making tools for hypertension management were identified as principal needs. The situational analysis found that the healthcare systems efficiency might be improved by establishing defined treatment and care delivery goals with a focus on outcomes and implemented through action plans. CONCLUSIONS: This situational analysis identified several needs related to hypertension control in São Paulo that are in line with global challenges to improve the control of CVD risk factors. Findings were also confirmed locally in an expansion phase of this situational analysis to additional primary care facilities. As a consequence, solutions were designed, promptly taken up and implemented by the municipal health secretariat.
Asunto(s)
Hipertensión , Atención Primaria de Salud , Humanos , Hipertensión/terapia , Hipertensión/diagnóstico , Hipertensión/epidemiología , Brasil/epidemiología , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Personal de Salud/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and a major public health issue worldwide. In Brazil, it affects approximately 52.5% of the adult population. We describe the solutions package and the impact of a population health initiative in São Paulo city, following the CARDIO4Cities approach for the management of cardiovascular risk. METHODS: Using a design thinking approach, interventions were developed with a coalition of local and international stakeholders to address needs of patients, healthcare professionals, and the health system. The resulting solution package was checked to comply with guidelines for non-communicable disease and hypertension management. Clinical impact was measured by extracting the hypertension cascade of care-monitored, diagnosis, treatment, and control-from medical records. RESULTS: Under the leadership of the municipal health authorities, nine solutions were piloted and scaled across the city. Solutions conform with local and international best-practices. Between October 2017 and December 2021, 11,406 patient records were analyzed. Results showed a 40% increase in monitored patients (patients with at least one blood pressure, BP, measurement); reduced proportions of patients diagnosed among those with available BP measurements (72%-53%) and treated among diagnosed (93%-85%); and an improvement in controlled patients among those receiving treatment (16%-27%). CONCLUSIONS: The solution package described in this study was correlated with increased BP control. The implementation methodology and results add to the body of real-world evidence supporting population health implementation science in Brazil and beyond.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Cardiovasculares , Hipertensión , Adulto , Humanos , Presión Sanguínea , Brasil/epidemiología , Hipertensión/diagnóstico , Hipertensión/tratamiento farmacológico , Hipertensión/epidemiología , Salud PúblicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease presents an increasing health burden to low- and middle-income countries. Although ample therapeutic options and care improvement frameworks exist to address its prime risk factor, hypertension, blood pressure control rates remain poor. We describe the results of an effectiveness study of a multisector urban population health initiative that targets hypertension in a real-world implementation setting in cities across three continents. The initiative followed the "CARDIO4Cities" approach (quality of Care, early Access, policy Reform, Data and digital technology, Intersectoral collaboration, and local Ownership). METHOD: The approach was applied in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Dakar in Senegal, and São Paulo in Brazil. In each city, a portfolio of evidence-based practices was implemented, tailored to local priorities and available data. Outcomes were measured by extracting hypertension diagnosis, treatment and control rates from primary health records. Data from 18,997 patients with hypertension in primary health facilities were analyzed. RESULTS: Over one to two years of implementation, blood pressure control rates among enrolled patients receiving medication tripled in São Paulo (from 12·3% to 31·2%) and Dakar (from 6·7% to 19·4%) and increased six-fold in Ulaanbaatar (from 3·1% to 19·7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides first evidence that a multisectoral population health approach to implement known best-practices, supported by data and digital technologies, and relying on local buy-in and ownership, can improve hypertension control in high-burden urban primary care settings in low-and middle-income countries.