Stakeholder Perspectives on Changes in Hypertension Care Under the Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Introduction: Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney disease, yet the proportion of adults whose hypertension is controlled is low. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model for care delivery that emphasizes patient-centered and team-based care and focuses on quality and safety. Our goal was to investigate changes in hypertension care under PCMH implementation in a large multipayer PCMH demonstration project that may have led to improvements in hypertension control.

Examining the Feasibility of a Simple Intervention to Improve Blood Pressure Control for Primary Care Patients.

Background: Blood pressure control remains a challenge despite the availability of effective antihypertensive agents.

Objective: This pilot study explored the feasibility of a simple, low-resource intervention to improve blood pressure control.

Methods: A convenience sample was drawn of 56 patients with hypertension from a primary care clinic.

Pilot trial of a licensed practical nurse intervention for hypertension and depression.

Background And Objectives: Depression is a risk factor for hypertension, and risk of depression is increased substantially in patients with hypertension. Our objective was to examine whether an intervention carried out by Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) integrating depression treatment into care for hypertension improved blood pressure control and depressive symptoms.

Methods: In all, 60 patients ages 41 to 92 years with hypertension and depressive symptoms at a large primary care practice in Philadelphia were randomly assigned to an integrated care intervention carried out by LPNs (n=30) or usual care (n=30).

Chronic medical conditions and reproducibility of self-reported age at menopause among community-dwelling women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between chronic medical conditions and reproducibility of self-reported age at menopause among community-dwelling women.

Methods: Age at menopause was assessed in a population-based longitudinal survey of 240 women twice, in 1993 and 2004. Women who recalled age at menopause in 2004 within 1 year or less of age at menopause recalled in 1993 (concordant) were compared with women who did not recall age at menopause in 2004 within 1 year of age at menopause recalled in 1993 (discordant).