The Challenge:

Treatment of high blood pressure can substantially lower the risk of CVD.  Despite this, hypertension is underdiagnosed and undertreated.  Around 30% of people with hypertension are unaware of their condition, and the pre-pandemic Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) data showed that around one third of people with diagnosed hypertension are not treated to QoF target, with substantial variation across the country

Prevention of CVD in people with hypertension requires optimal control of both blood pressure and cholesterol.  Around 50% of people with established CVD also have hypertension.

Current Hypertension Projects:

BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Hypertension Programme

Hypertension is a prevalent condition in BSW with significant negative health and economic impacts. Current approaches to management are insufficient, leading to preventable deaths and inequities in care and outcome.

By adopting a value-based healthcare approach, BSW can improve outcomes, reduce healthcare utilisation, and achieve long-term cost savings. This involves diagnosing an additional 38,000 individuals and ensuring 80% receive effective treatment, which can prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The programme proposes a system-wide, collaborative approach to hypertension management, prioritising interventions that address risk reduction, early diagnosis, and optimized treatment, with a focus on health equity. This comprehensive strategy aims to achieve the national treatment target, improve patient outcomes, and generate substantial long-term value for the NHS.

We look forward to supporting BSW’s hypertension programme in specific activities.

Resources:

ICS blood pressure data

UCLPartners has launched ‘Size of the Prize’ blood pressure data. For each ICS and region in England, this resource shows on a single slide:

  • The impact of COVID: in disrupting treatment for people with hypertension. On average the proportion with optimally controlled blood pressure has fallen from 70% to under 50%.
  • The risk: how many strokes and heart attacks might result if that disruption is not rapidly corrected. Across England this number exceeds 27,000 in three years.
  • The ambition: how many additional heart attacks and strokes can be prevented in three years and what savings can be generated if more people have their treatment optimised – with three levels of ambition.

Blog: Doing things differently

  • The Health Innovation Network have published a blog by Dr Matt Kearney, GP and national lead for the blood pressure optimisation programme and UCLPartners Programme Director for CVD Prevention and Proactive Care.

Read Matt’s blog to find out how we’re working across the Network to prevent heart attacks and strokes at scale.

Webinar recordings:

South West Collaborative – Blood Pressure Optimisation Webinar – 12/9/24 (vimeo.com)

Case finding tools:

UCLP Proactive Care Frameworks – UCLPartners have developed a number of tools to identify and manage long-term conditions within Primary Care. You can find more information on them here UCLPartners Proactive Care Frameworks – UCLPartners