Hypertension in Urban Men

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing report personalized care and attention lowers high blood pressure rates significantly in urban African-American men. Results of a two-year study of 309 hypertensive, urban African-American men show that blood pressure control rates improved in this high-risk population by 105 percent.

Dr. Martha Hill says the "power of reaching out and offering attention" can never be underestimated. She says the study is especially significant, because it targets men at very high risk for the effects of uncontrolled blood pressure -- stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.

The study tests two levels of personalized care, with half of the men receiving a more intensive care and outreach that included a home visit, free medication, hypertension education, transportation assistance and referrals. Researchers say the other half were given hypertension education, referrals to medical care and free health care in the community.

Surprisingly, researchers say, men in both groups had blood pressure control rates averaging 39 percent, topping the overall national control rate of 27 percent. Men who received the intensive team intervention had even higher improvement rates.

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