A clinical trial to improve high blood pressure care in young urban black men: Recruitment, follow-up, and outcomes

• Published in: American journal of hypertension 1999-06, Vol.12 (6), p.548-554
• Main Authors: Hill, Martha N, Bone, Lee R, Hilton, Sterling C, Roary, Mary C, Kelen, Gabor D, Levine, David M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans; African Continental Ancestry Group; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; follow-up; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; hypertension; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Patient Selection; Quality of Health Care; randomized clinical trial; Recruitment; Sample Size; Treatment Outcome; Urban Population; young black men
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-7061(99)00007-2

This randomized trial recruited and followed underserved, inner-city, hypertensive (HTN), young black men and investigated whether a nurse-community health worker team in combination with usual medical care (SI) increased entry into care and reduced high blood pressure (HBP), in comparison to usual medical care (UC) alone. Emergency department records, advertising, and BP screenings identified potential participants with HBP. Telephone calls and personal contacts tracked enrollees. Of 1391 potential participants, 803 (58%) responded to an invitation to be screened and scheduled a visit. Of these, 528 (66%) kept an appointment, 207 (35%) were BP eligible, and 204 (99%) consented to enroll. At 12 months 91% of men were accounted for and 85.8% (adjusted for death, in jail, or moved away) were seen. Mean BP changed from 153(16)/98(10) to 152(19)/94(11) mm Hg in the SI group and 151(18)/98(11) to 147(21)/92(14) mm Hg in the UC group ( P = NS). High rates of participation are attainable in this population; however, culturally acceptable ways of delivering HBP care are needed.