Publications by authors named "B K Bellows"
Importance: The Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS) Polypill Trial showed that a cardiovascular polypill (a single pill containing a statin and 3 half-standard dose antihypertensive medications) effectively controls cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a majority Black race and low-income population. The cost-effectiveness of polypill treatment in this population has not been previously studied.
Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of the cardiovascular polypill.
Background: The Pooled Cohort Equations (PCEs) do not accurately estimate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in certain populations. The 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guideline identified risk-enhancing factors as a supplement to PCEs-based risk assessment. However, the role of each risk-enhancing factor in ASCVD risk assessment has not been well quantified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- A study utilizing data from the Veterans Health Administration examined trends in the initial treatment regimens for newly diagnosed hypertension from 2000 to 2019, focusing on the use of monotherapy versus dual therapy.
- Initial monotherapy prescriptions increased across all levels of pretreatment systolic blood pressure, while the use of dual therapy declined over the same period.
- The findings highlight a gap between recommended treatment guidelines and the actual medications prescribed to Veterans with high blood pressure, particularly those with systolic BP levels of 160 mm Hg or higher.