Impact of a rural high blood pressure control program on hypertension control and cardiovascular disease mortality

Kentucky is a predominantly rural state with relatively high death rates from hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We report the results of a community-based high blood pressure control educational program undertaken in two rural counties of southeastern Kentucky. In the intervention counties, systolic and diastolic blood pressures of both men and women decreased despite the five-year increase in age; moreover, hypertension was better controlled after the program, and substantial decreases in deaths due to cardiovascular disease were seen. These differences were greater among men in the two regions than among women. The results of this program suggest that, in sparsely populated rural areas, existing resources and programs can be successfully utilized in a communitywide cardiovascular disease risk reduction educational program.