Health Care System Factors for Blood Pressure: Doctor-diagnosed Hypertension

Health Care System Factors

In February 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a report titled ''A Population-Based Policy and Systems Change Approach to Prevent and Control Hypertension''. The IOM found that high blood pressure is a "neglected disease." The impact of high blood pressure on public health is well known, the costs are well known, and the interventions to prevent, control, and treat it, are safe and effective, yet high blood pressure continues to account for 1 in 6 deaths in the U.S. The IOM identified some factors in the health care system that contribute to the problem. These included poor adherence to blood pressure treatment guidelines and cost barriers for patients who need to take high blood pressure medication. A summary of the report (report brief) is found here: [http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/A-Population-Based-Policy-and-Systems-Change-Approach-to-Prevent-and-Control-Hypertension/Reduce%20and%20Control%20Hypertension%202010%20%20Report%20Brief.pdf]