A new global study from Tulane University has found that pharmacists and community health workers are the most successful at helping patients manage high blood pressure.
The findings, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, suggest that giving these healthcare professionals a larger role in treating hypertension could improve outcomes and save lives.
Researchers analyzed data from 100 clinical trials worldwide that involved different healthcare professionals helping patients control their blood pressure. They wanted to find out which types of professionals were most effective at reducing blood pressure levels.
Although interventions led by doctors, nurses, and multidisciplinary teams were all effective, the biggest improvements came from pharmacist-led programs. Community health workers also had strong results, just slightly behind pharmacists.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a leading preventable cause of early death across the globe. It often goes untreated in communities where people have limited access to healthcare due to cost or distance.
This study shows that effective treatment can happen both in clinics and in communities, especially when it’s led by professionals who can spend more time with patients.
“Managing blood pressure often takes more time than a regular doctor’s visit allows,” said lead author Katherine Mills, associate professor and vice chair of epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
“That’s why having someone who isn’t limited by the same time constraints, like a pharmacist or community health worker, can be the most effective option.”
On average, pharmacist-led efforts lowered systolic blood pressure—the top number in a blood pressure reading—by 7.3 mmHg. Community health worker-led interventions reduced it by 7.1 mmHg.
Nurses and other professionals saw drops of around 2 to 3 mmHg. These two groups also had the best results in lowering diastolic blood pressure—the bottom number.
Systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or higher is used to diagnose hypertension in adults. Even small reductions in blood pressure can lower the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
Mills said the results weren’t surprising but were encouraging. “The good news is that all types of healthcare workers were effective,” she said. “But pharmacists, in particular, are well-suited to adjust medications and doses for individual patients, which often requires multiple visits.”
Lawrence J. Fine, M.D., from the National Institutes of Health, also commented on the findings. He emphasized the importance of team-based care and said the study shows that pharmacists and community health workers can play key roles in controlling blood pressure—especially at a time when control rates have been falling.
Community health workers may also be especially effective because they often live in the same communities as their patients. This connection can build trust and make patients more willing to follow health advice. These workers also tend to be a more affordable option for delivering care compared to other professionals.
“High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms,” Mills added. “So during a quick visit to a doctor, it might not be the top concern for someone with multiple health problems. This study helps us figure out who is best placed to lead efforts to address this major public health issue.”
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about common blood pressure medication that may extend your healthy life span and common high blood pressure drug linked to sudden cardiac arrest.
For more information about blood pressure, please read studies that timing matters when taking high blood pressure pills and 1 in 5 people with high blood pressure taking a drug worsen the disease.
The study is published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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