A matched-pair cluster quasi-experimental trial in Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs; primary healthcare facilities) was conducted in rural Bangladesh. A total of 3935 patients (mean age 52.3 years, 70.5% female) with uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mm Hg regardless of treatment history) were enrolled: 1950 patients from 7 HEARTS UHCs and 1985 patients from 7 matched usual care UHCs. The primary outcome was systolic BP at 6 months measured at the patient’s home; secondary outcomes were diastolic BP, hypertension control rate (<140/90 mm Hg) and loss to follow-up. Multivariable mixed-effects linear and Poisson models were conducted.
Baseline mean systolic BP was 158.4 mm Hg in the intervention group and 158.8 mm Hg in the usual care group. At 6 months, 95.5% of participants completed follow-up. Compared with usual care, the intervention significantly lowered systolic BP (−23.7 mm Hg vs −20.0 mm Hg; net difference −3.7 mm Hg (95% CI −5.1 to –2.2)) and diastolic BP (−10.2 mm Hg vs −8.3 mm Hg; net difference −1.9 mm Hg (95% CI −2.7 to –1.1)) and improved hypertension control (62.0% vs 49.7%, net difference 12.3% (95% CI 9.0 to 16.8)). Rate of missed clinic visits was lower in the intervention group (8.8% vs 39.3%, p<0.001).
After WHO-HEARTS package implementation in rural Bangladesh, BP was lowered and hypertension control improved significantly compared with usual care.
https://heart.bmj.com/content/heartjnl/110/17/1090.full.pdf
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