HEARTS in the Americas: innovations for improving hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk management in primary care

• Published in: Revista panamericana de salud pública Vol. 46; no. 96; pp. 1 - e96
• Main Authors: Ordunez, Pedro, Campbell, Norm R.C., Giraldo Arcila, Gloria P., Angell, Sonia Y., Lombardi, Cintia, Brettler, Jeffrey W., Rodriguez Morales, Yenny A., Connell, Kenneth L., Gamarra, Angelo, DiPette, Donald J., Rosende, Andres, Jaffe, Marc G., Rodriguez, Libardo, Piñeiro, Daniel J., Martinez, Ramon, Sharman, James E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Pan American Health Organization (Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud) 2022; Organización Panamericana de la Salud; Pan American Health Organization
• Subjects: americas; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes; Disability; Disease prevention; Health care; Health Policy & Services; Hypertension; Innovations; Measurement; Primary care; primary health care; public health; Risk management; Special Report; Hypertension; Americas; saúde pública; atención primaria de salud; salud pública; Américas; Hipertensión; primary health care; Hipertensão; cardiovascular diseases; atenção primária à saúde; América; doenças cardiovasculares; enfermedades cardiovasculares; public health
• ISSN: 1020-4989; 1680-5348; 1680-5348
• DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2022.96

Global Hearts is the flagship initiative of the World Health Organization to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. HEARTS in the Americas Initiative is the regional adaptation that envisions HEARTS as the model for cardiovascular disease risk management, including hypertension and diabetes, in primary health care in the Americas by 2025. This initiative is entering its sixth year of implementation and now includes 22 countries and 1 380 primary health care centers. The objectives of this report are three-fold. First, it describes the emergence and the main elements of HEARTS in the Americas. Secondly, it summarizes the main innovations developed to catalyze and sustain implementation of the initiative. These innovations include: a) introduction of hypertension control drivers; b) development of a comprehensive and practical clinical pathway; c) development of a strategy to improve the accuracy of blood pressure measurement; d) creation of a monitoring and evaluation platform; and e) development of a standardized set of training and education resources. Thirdly, this report discusses future priorities of the initiative. The goal of implementing these innovative and pragmatic solutions is to create a more effective health system and shift the focus of cardiovascular and hypertension programs from the highly specialized care level to primary health care. In addition, HEARTS in the Americas can serve as a model for more comprehensive, effective, and sustainable noncommunicable disease prevention and treatment practices.