More than 400 medical practices, providers and health systems are working on Target: BP, an initiative from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA).
The participants have agreed to follow the AHA’s guidelines and aim for blood pressure readings of lower than 140/90 mm Hg, according to an AHA news release. Through the program, the AHA and AMA are hoping to decrease MIs and strokes among adults in the U.S.
The AHA noted in a news release that an estimated 80 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure, which costs the economy approximately $46 billion each year. Between 2001 and 2011, the death rate caused by high blood pressure increased 13 percent, according to the release.
During the AHA’s scientific sessions in New Orleans this month, the organization recognized 68 early adopters of the Target: BP program. Starting next year, the AHA will recognize practices, providers and health systems have at least 70 percent of their patients with blood pressure readings less than 140/90 mm Hg.
“Currently, only about half of those with high blood pressure are achieving our recommended blood pressure reading of below 140/90 mm Hg,” AHA president Steven Houser, PhD, said in a news release. “With Target: BP, we hope to streamline information, resources and tools for providers and patients, to help keep blood pressure under control. By controlling blood pressure, we can potentially prevent progression to other serious threats to heart and brain health.”
Executive Editor
Tim Casey joined TriMed Media Group in 2015 as Executive Editor. For the previous four years, he worked as an editor and writer for HMP Communications, primarily focused on covering managed care issues and reporting from medical and health care conferences. He was also a staff reporter at the Sacramento Bee for more than four years covering professional, college and high school sports. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA degree from Georgetown University.