A new method to control hypertension reduces strokes

A new program blood pressure control has managed to effectively reduce the hypertension and prevent serious illness or death in thousands of patients. The study, led by the University of California, San Francisco (United States) and published in ‘BMJ Open Quality‘, lasted two years and ended in mid-2025.

High blood pressure affects almost half of Americans and is one of the main causes of death, especially in disadvantaged populations. Additionally, it can cause heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and complications during pregnancy.

The new tool, adopted at the University of California’s six academic medical centers, is one of the few developed for an entire health system in order to control hypertension. The data shows that it improved blood pressure control from 68.5% to almost 74% among 90,000 patients, including 11,500 at the university.

“This improvement represents approximately 4,860 people who now have controlled blood pressure, which translates into 72 strokes, 48 ​​heart attacks and 38 deaths prevented,” exemplifies lead author Dr. Sandeep P Kishorean internist and associate professor of medicine at UCSF, specializing in cardiometabolic health.

“These are real Californians who didn’t end up in an emergency room, suffer any disabilities, or lose time with their families,” he adds.

The new tool, called UC Way Hypertension Medication Algorithmfollows a gradual approach to increasing types and doses of medications, while allowing doctors to adjust treatment based on individual factors and special populations, such as older people. It is integrated into the electronic medical record of the University of California.

The tool was developed by multidisciplinary teams including cardiologists, internists, primary care physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and data scientists. The group began meeting in 2020 to create a comprehensive strategy that prioritized medication affordability and reducing variability in treatments among diverse patient populations. The UC Way tool was implemented system-wide in 2023.

In addition to medication, study experts recommend common-sense lifestyle practices to improve blood pressure, such as quitting smoking or tobacco use, limiting alcohol consumption (two drinks a day for men, one for women), limiting sodium (one teaspoon a day or less for most adults), taking exercise at least 150 minutes a weeklose weight if you are overweight (BMI greater than 25), follow a healthy diet and regularly use home blood pressure monitors.

Nearly 120 million American adults suffer from hypertensiona disease that can damage arteries, and another 37 million suffer from even more serious conditions. Only about half of people with hypertension can control their blood pressure with medications and lifestyle changes.

The problem is especially serious in some populations, such as black and Hispanic adults. For example, by age 55, 75% of black adults develop hypertension, compared to 54% of white men and 40% of white women. The UC Health tool increased hypertension control in Black patients from 63.4% to 67.3%. However, disparities persisted, which the authors say underscores the need for more targeted interventions.