Implementation of a community-based hypertension control program in Matanzas, Cuba.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
• Health Systems Strengthening

Background:

• Hypertension is a leading global cause of death, necessitating improved control strategies.
• Cuba initiated a regional project in 2016 to reduce cardiovascular risk and enhance hypertension management.
• The Carlos Verdugo Martínez Polyclinic in Matanzas served as the site for this community demonstration project.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate interventions for enhancing hypertension control within a community setting.
• To assess the impact of the World Health Organization HEARTS modules on hypertension management.
• To establish a framework for monitoring and evaluating public health initiatives for non-communicable diseases.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of WHO HEARTS modules, including standardized clinical training for blood pressure measurement.
• Routine hypertension screening in clinical and community settings.
• Utilization of a directive pharmacologic treatment algorithm and a performance reporting registry.

Main Results:

• Hypertension prevalence remained stable at 30%, but the proportion of diagnosed and treated hypertensive individuals increased significantly.
• The rate of hypertension control among the treated population rose from 36% in 2010 to 58% within a year.
• Registration of hypertensive patients reached 90%, with 68% of those treated achieving controlled blood pressure.

Conclusions:

• The community demonstration project successfully enhanced hypertension control rates in Cuba.
• The implemented interventions, aligned with WHO HEARTS modules, proved effective in improving population-level blood pressure management.
• Positive outcomes have led to program expansion and preliminary efforts for national scale-up.