Coordinated care improves blood pressure management for low-income adults

A coordinated, team-based blood-pressure management intervention conducted in low-income patients in Mississippi and Louisiana at federally qualified health centers resulted in significantly reduced systolic blood pressure than usual care, found a New England Journal of Medicine study. The authors conclude FQHCs could implement the program effectively. The intervention consisted of intensive blood pressure management, audit and feedback, and nurses and medical assistants providing health coaching on lifestyle changes and medication adherence. The study included 1,272 patients with uncontrolled hypertension who received the intervention or usual care from June 2018 through July 2022. At 18 months, systolic blood pressure in the intervention group fell by an average of 15.5 mm Hg compared with an average of 9.1 mm Hg in the control group. (MedPage Today article, 4/8/26)