Evaluation of community-based care delivered by primary healthcare providers in management of hypertension in a rural area of West Bengal

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle modifications and medication compliance are key strategies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of community-based care delivered by trained primary healthcare providers in management of hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted between two groups of newly diagnosed hypertensive patients to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention. Six blocks in a district were chosen with pairwise matching. All primary healthcare providers of one block in each pair were randomized to receive the intervention and the other was controlled. Next screening for risk factors, detection of hypertension, counseling, and follow-up care were provided. The patients within the control group received usual care as per clinician’s discretion. A total of 227 patients in the “study” group and 230 patients in the “control” group were recruited from 12 subcenters selected randomly. Data analysis was done by χ(2) test, t test, and GLM analysis using SPSS 16. RESULTS: Patients in the intervention blocks demonstrated a statistically significant mean reduction in SBP of 16.14 ± 0.82 and DBP by 11.65 ± 0.53 compared to 9.83 ± 1.02 and 7.68 ± 0.66, respectively, in the control blocks after adjusting for age, sex, and baseline blood pressure at one-year follow-up. Regarding lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors, statistically significant differences were found in favor of the intervention group. CONCLUSION: The study supports and reinforces the utilization of trained primary healthcare providers under the NPCDCS program in screening and promoting blood pressure control by preventive services to hypertensive patients in the community.