Ambulatory Care Fragmentation, Emergency Department Visits, and Race: a Nationwide Cohort Study in the U.S.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether highly fragmented ambulatory care (i.e., care spread across multiple providers without a dominant provider) increases the risk of an emergency department (ED) visit. Whether any such association varies with race is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether highly fragmented ambulatory care increases the risk of an ED visit, overall and by race. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: We analyzed data for 14,361 participants ≥ 65 years old from the nationwide prospective REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort study, linked to Medicare claims (2003-2016). MAIN MEASURES: We defined high fragmentation as a reversed Bice-Boxerman Index ≥ 0.85 (≥ 75th percentile). We used Poisson models to determine the association between fragmentation (as a time-varying exposure) and ED visits, overall and stratified by race, adjusting for demographics, medical conditions, medications, health behaviors, psychosocial variables, and physiologic variables. KEY RESULTS: The average participant was 70.5 years old; 53% were female, and 33% were Black individuals. Participants with high fragmentation had a median of 9 visits to 6 providers, with 29% of visits by the most frequently seen provider; participants with low fragmentation had a median of 7 visits to 3 providers, with 50% of visits by the most frequently seen provider. Overall, high fragmentation was associated with more ED visits than low fragmentation (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29, 1.34). The magnitude of this association was larger among Black (aRR 1.48, 95% CI 1.44, 1.53) than White participants (aRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.20, 1.25). CONCLUSIONS: Highly fragmented ambulatory care was an independent predictor of ED visits, especially among Black individuals.

Frailty, gaps in care coordination, and preventable adverse events.

BACKGROUND: Older US adults often receive care from multiple ambulatory providers. Seeing multiple providers may be clinically appropriate but creates challenges for communication. Whether frailty is a risk factor for gaps in communication among older adults and subsequent preventable adverse events is unknown. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of community-dwelling US adults ≥ 65 years of age in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study who attended an in-home study examination in 2013-2016 and completed a survey on experiences with healthcare in 2017-2018 (n = 5,024). Using 5 frailty indicators (low body mass index, exhaustion, slow walk, weakness, and history of falls), we characterized participants into 3 mutually exclusive groups: not frail (0 indicators), intermediate-frail (1-2 indicators), and frail (3-5 indicators). We used survey data on self-reported gaps in care coordination and self-reported adverse events that participants attributed to poor communication among providers (a drug-drug interaction, repeat testing, an emergency department visit, or a hospital admission). RESULTS: Overall, 2,398 (47.7%) participants were not frail, 2,436 (48.5%) were intermediate-frail, and 190 (3.8%) were frail. The prevalence of any gap in care coordination was 37.0%, 40.8%, and 51.1% among participants who were not frail, intermediate-frail and frail, respectively. The adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) for any gap in care coordination among intermediate-frail and frail versus not frail participants was 1.09 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.02-1.18) and 1.34 (95%CI 1.15-1.56), respectively. The prevalence of any preventable adverse event was 7.0%, 11.3% and 20.0% among participants who were not frail, intermediate-frail and frail, respectively. The adjusted PR for any preventable adverse event among those who were intermediate-frail and frail versus not frail was 1.47 (95%CI 1.22-1.77) and 2.24 (95%CI 1.60-3.14), respectively. CONCLUSION: Among older adults, frailty is associated with an increased prevalence for self-reported gaps in care coordination and preventable adverse events. Targeted interventions to address patient-reported concerns regarding care coordination among intermediate-frail and frail older adults may be warranted.

Effectiveness of an intrauterine device informative intervention among post-natal women in Western Jamaica.

INTRODUCTION: Intrauterine devices are the most effective long-acting reversible contraceptives, but in many developing countries, such as Jamaica, these devices remain underutilized. METHODS: A cross-sectional informative intervention was conducted among women ≥ 18 years of age attending postnatal clinics in western Jamaica from May to August 2018. Data were collected using an investigator-administered questionnaire/pre-test followed by a 12-slide PowerPoint® presentation and a post-test. RESULTS: Most of the 299 women who participated were 18-29 years of age, with a mean age of 27.1 (SD ± 6.1) years. Most had their first pregnancy between ages 18 and 24 years, with mean age at first pregnancy of 20.2 (SD ± 4.0) years. Only 3.0% of participants reported current use of an intrauterine device; 3.5% reported using an intrauterine device in the past. For nearly every measure of knowledge of intrauterine devices, there was a significant change in the proportion of participants who got the correct answer from the pre-test to the post-test. The mean summed pre-test knowledge score was 9.54 (SD ± 3.46) and the post-test score was 15.23 (SD ± 1.92); the possible total score is 18. The difference between the mean scores (5.69 points) was also significant. CONCLUSION: The intervention resulted in significant change in knowledge of intrauterine devices among the women and cleared up many misconceptions that may have contributed to reluctance of women to use intrauterine devices. Women of reproductive age in Jamaica should be counseled on contraceptive methods including intrauterine devices so that these devices can be considered in their contraceptive choices.

Diabetes, gaps in care coordination, and preventable adverse events.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the frequency of self-reported gaps in care coordination and self-reported preventable adverse events among adults with vs without diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants 65 years and older who completed a survey on health care experiences in 2017-2018 (N = 5634). METHODS: We analyzed the association of diabetes with self-reported gaps in care coordination and with preventable adverse events. Gaps in care coordination were assessed using 8 validated questions. Four self-reported adverse events were studied (drug-drug interactions, repeat medical tests, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations). Respondents were asked if they thought these events could have been prevented with better communication among providers. RESULTS: Overall, 1724 (30.6%) participants had diabetes. Among participants with and without diabetes, 39.3% and 40.7%, respectively, reported any gap in care coordination. The adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) for any gap in care coordination for participants with vs without diabetes was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.89-1.06). Any preventable adverse event was reported by 12.9% and 8.7% of participants with and without diabetes, respectively. The aPR for any preventable adverse event for participants with vs without diabetes was 1.22 (95% CI, 1.00-1.49). Among participants with and without diabetes, the aPRs for any preventable adverse event associated with any gap in care coordination were 1.53 (95% CI, 1.15-2.04) and 1.50 (95% CI, 1.21-1.88), respectively (P comparing aPRs = .922). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to improve quality of care for patients with diabetes could incorporate patient-reported gaps in care coordination to aid in preventing adverse events.

Building Capacity of Community Nurses to Strengthen the Management of Uncomplicated Hypertension in Persons Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Objectives: Poor training of non-physician healthcare workers (especially community nurses) could hinder the successful integration of cardiovascular disease (CVD) management into HIV chronic care in primary healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. To address this limitation, we included a holistic training programme with a robust module for both practice facilitators and community nurses as part of the formative stages of the managing hypertension among people living with HIV: an integrated model (MAP-IT), which is a study that is evaluating the effectiveness of practice facilitation on the integration of a task-strengthening strategy for hypertension control (TASSH) into primary healthcare centres in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Methods: Between June and November 2021, 3 didactic training workshops were conducted using a training module which is based on the simplified Nigerian Hypertension Protocol for primary care and the World Health Organization (WHO) heart package. Knowledge acquired by the participants was assessed using anonymized pre- and post-training assessments in the first two workshops. Participants' view of the training was assessed using a comprehensive course evaluation questionnaire. Results: A total of 92 community nurses and six practice facilitators were trained in the workshops on managing hypertension in persons living with HIV. Mean pre- and post-test scores improved from 11.9(3.4) to 15.9(2.9); p < 0.001 in the first workshop, and from 15.4(0.9) to 16.4 (1.4); p < 0.001 in the second workshop. The methodology used in the training, understanding of the MAP-IT study programme, and the level of engagement was highly rated by the participants with LIKERT scores of 3.2/4.0, 3.2/4.0, and 3.1/4.0 respectively. Conclusion: Our training methodology, which involved the train-the-trainer model to deliver simplified HIV and HTN care guidelines, showed improvement in the knowledge of managing hypertension in persons living with HIV and was highly rated by participants.

Study design and protocol of a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial using a practical implementation strategy as a model for hypertension-HIV integration - the MAP-IT trial.

BACKGROUND: As people living with HIV (PLWH) experience earlier and more pronounced onset of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), advancing integrated care networks and models in low-resource-high-need settings is critical. Leveraging current health system initiatives and addressing gaps in treatment for PLWH, we report our approach using a late-stage (T4) implementation research study to test the adoption and sustainability of a proven-effective implementation strategy which has been minimally applied in low-resource settings for the integration of hypertension control into HIV treatment. We detail our protocol for the Managing Hypertension Among People Living with HIV: an Integrated Model (MAP-IT) trial, which uses a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT) design to evaluate the effectiveness of practice facilitation on the adoption of a hypertension treatment program for PLWH receiving care at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. DESIGN: In partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and community organizations, the MAP-IT trial takes place in 30 PHCs. The i-PARiHS framework guided pre-implementation needs assessment. The RE-AIM framework will guide post-implementation activities to evaluate the effect of practice facilitation on the adoption, implementation fidelity, and sustainability of a hypertension program, as well as blood pressure (BP) control. Using a SW-CRT design, PHCs sequentially crossover from the hypertension program only (usual care) to hypertension plus practice facilitation (experimental condition). PHCs will recruit and enroll an average of 28-32 patients to reach a maximum of 960 PLWH participants with uncontrolled hypertension who will be followed longitudinally for BP outcomes. DISCUSSION: Given the need for integrated NCD-HIV care platforms in low-resource settings, MAP-IT will underscore the challenges and opportunities for integrating hypertension treatment into HIV care, particularly concerning adoption and sustainability. The evaluation of our integration approach will also highlight the potential impact of a health systems strengthening approach on BP control among PLWH. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT05031819 ). Registered on 2nd September 2021.

Organizational readiness to implement task-strengthening strategy for hypertension management among people living with HIV in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HTN) is highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV), but there is limited access to standardized HTN management strategies in public primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. The shortage of trained healthcare providers in Nigeria is an important contributor to the increased unmet need for HTN management among PLHIV. Evidence-based TAsk-Strengthening Strategies for HTN control (TASSH) have shown promise to address this gap in other resource-constrained settings. However, little is known regarding primary health care facilities' capacity to implement this strategy. The objective of this study was to determine primary healthcare facilities' readiness to implement TASSH among PLHIV in Nigeria. METHODS: This study was conducted with purposively selected healthcare providers at fifty-nine primary healthcare facilities in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Healthcare facility readiness data were measured using the Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment (ORCA) tool. ORCA is based on the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework that identifies evidence, context, and facilitation as the key factors for effective knowledge translation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (including mean ORCA subscales). We focused on the ORCA context domain, and responses were scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with 1 corresponding to disagree strongly. FINDINGS: Fifty-nine healthcare providers (mean age 45; standard deviation [SD]: 7.4, 88% female, 68% with technical training, 56% nurses, 56% with 1-5 years providing HIV care) participated in the study. Most healthcare providers provide care to 11-30 patients living with HIV per month in their health facility, with about 42% of providers reporting that they see between 1 and 10 patients with HTN each month. Overall, staff culture (mean 4.9 [0.4]), leadership support (mean 4.9 [0.4]), and measurement/evidence-assessment (mean 4.6 [0.5]) were the topped-scored ORCA subscales, while scores on facility resources (mean 3.6 [0.8]) were the lowest. CONCLUSION: Findings show organizational support for innovation and the health providers at the participating health facilities. However, a concerted effort is needed to promote training capabilities and resources to deliver services within these primary healthcare facilities. These results are invaluable in developing future strategies to improve the integration, adoption, and sustainability of TASSH in primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05031819.

Advancing Equity in Blood Pressure Control: A Response to the Surgeon General's Call-to-Action.

Hypertension is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although controlling blood pressure reduces cardiovascular and stroke mortality and target organ damage, poor blood pressure control remains a clinical and public health challenge. Furthermore, racial and ethnic disparities in the outcomes of hypertension are well documented. In October of 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Control Hypertension. The Call to Action emphasized, among other priorities, the need to eliminate disparities in the treatment and control of high blood pressure and to address social determinants as root causes of inequities in blood pressure control and treatment. In support of the goals set in the Call to Action, this review summarizes contemporary research on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in hypertension and blood pressure control; describes interventions and policies that have improved blood pressure control in minoritized populations by addressing the social determinants of health; and proposes next steps for achieving equity in hypertension and blood pressure control.

Sustaining capacity building and evidence-based NCD intervention implementation: Perspectives from the GRIT consortium.

Background: Implementation science has been primarily focused on adoption of evidence-based interventions, and less so on sustainability, creating a gap in the field. The Global Research on Implementation and Translation Science (GRIT) Consortium is funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHBLI) to support the planning, implementation, and sustainability of Late-Stage Phase 4 Translational Research (T4TR) and capacity building for NCD prevention and control in eight low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper highlights perspectives, including barriers, facilitators, opportunities, and motivators for sustaining capacity building and evidence-based hypertension interventions within LMICs. Methods: Guided by the Capacity, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior (COM-B) Model, this study surveyed GRIT consortium members on the barriers, facilitators, key motivators, and opportunities for sustaining capacity building and evidence-based hypertension interventions in LMICs. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns across responses. Results: Twenty-five consortium members across all eight sites and from various research levels responded to the survey. Overarching themes identifying facilitators, key motivators and opportunities for sustainability included: (1) access to structured and continuous training and mentorship; (2) project integration with existing systems (i.e., political systems and health systems); (3) adaption to the local context of studies (i.e., accounting for policies, resources, and utilizing stakeholder engagement); and (4) development of interventions with decision makers and implementers. Barriers to sustainability included local policies and lack of infrastructure, unreliable access to hypertension medications, and lack of sufficient staff, time, and funding. Conclusion: Sustainability is an important implementation outcome to address in public health interventions, particularly as it pertains to the success of these initiatives. This study provides perspectives on the sustainability of NCD interventions with a focus on mitigating their NCD burden in LMICs. Addressing multilevel factors that influence the sustainability of capacity building and interventions will have notable implications for other global NCD efforts going forward. Current and future studies, as well as consortium networks, should account for sustainability barriers outlined as it will strengthen program implementation, and long-term outcomes.

Health care fragmentation and blood pressure control among adults taking antihypertensive medication.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of fragmented ambulatory health care with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) and apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) among older adults taking antihypertensive medication, overall and by race and gender. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using data from 2868 REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants 66 years and older who completed a study examination in 2013-2016, had Medicare fee-for-service coverage, and were taking antihypertensive medication. METHODS: We used logistic regression to analyze the association of fragmented health care with uncontrolled BP and aTRH. Fragmented health care was operationalized as a reversed Bice-Boxerman Index score in the 75th percentile or higher, calculated using the number of ambulatory providers and health care visits in the year preceding the study examination. Uncontrolled BP was defined by systolic BP of at least 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP of at least 90 mm Hg. aTRH was defined by taking 3 or more classes of antihypertensive medication with uncontrolled BP or 4 or more classes with controlled BP. RESULTS: The overall adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for uncontrolled BP, aTRH with controlled BP, and aTRH with uncontrolled BP associated with fragmented health care were 1.10 (0.89-1.37), 1.08 (0.80-1.47), and 1.32 (0.96-1.81), respectively. Fragmented health care was not associated with uncontrolled BP or aTRH among White participants, women, or men. Among Black participants, the odds ratio (95% CI) associated with fragmented health care was 1.21 (0.81-1.82) for uncontrolled BP, 1.22 (0.72-2.07) for aTRH with controlled BP, and 1.82 (1.07-3.11) for aTRH with uncontrolled BP. CONCLUSIONS: Fragmented health care may increase the likelihood of aTRH with uncontrolled BP among older Black adults taking antihypertensive medication.

Prevalence, risk factors, and cardiovascular disease outcomes associated with persistent blood pressure control: The Jackson Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining blood pressure (BP) control over time may contribute to lower risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals who are taking antihypertensive medication. METHODS: The Jackson Heart Study (JHS) enrolled 5,306 African-American adults ≥21 years of age and was used to determine the proportion of African Americans that maintain persistent BP control, identify factors associated with persistent BP control, and determine the association of persistent BP control with CVD events. This analysis included 1,604 participants who were taking antihypertensive medication at Visit 1 and had BP data at Visits 1 (2000-2004), 2 (2005-2008), and 3 (2009-2013). Persistent BP control was defined as systolic BP <140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg at all three visits. CVD events were assessed from Visit 3 through December 31, 2016. Hazard ratios (HR) for the association of persistent BP control with CVD outcomes were adjusted for age, sex, systolic BP, smoking, diabetes, and total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at Visit 3. RESULTS: At Visit 1, 1,226 of 1,604 participants (76.4%) with hypertension had controlled BP. Overall, 48.9% of participants taking antihypertensive medication at Visit 1 had persistent BP control. After multivariable adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial factors, and access-to-care, participants were more likely to have persistent BP control if they were <65 years of age, women, had family income ≥$25,000 at each visit, and visited a health professional in the year prior to each visit. The multivariable adjusted HR (95% confidence interval) comparing participants with versus without persistent BP control was 0.71 (0.46-1.10) for CVD, 0.68 (0.34-1.34) for coronary heart disease, 0.65 (0.27-1.52) for stroke, and 0.55 (0.33-0.90) for heart failure. CONCLUSION: Less than half of JHS participants taking antihypertensive medication had persistent BP control, putting them at increased risk for heart failure.

Reasons for Uncontrolled Blood Pressure Among US Adults: Data From the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

[Figure: see text].

Lifestyle Behaviors Among Adults Recommended for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring According to the 2017 ACC/AHA Blood Pressure Guideline.

BACKGROUND: The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood pressure (BP) guideline recommends ambulatory BP monitoring to exclude white coat hypertension (WCH) among adults with office systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) of 130-159/80-99 mm Hg, and masked hypertension (MHT) among adults with office SBP/DBP of 120-129/75-79 mm Hg after a 3-month trial of lifestyle modification. We estimated the proportion of individuals with ideal lifestyle factors among those who meet these office BP criteria. METHODS: We analyzed data from participants not taking antihypertensive medication in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) and Jackson Heart Study (JHS) who met the office BP criteria for screening for WCH (CARDIA n = 490, JHS n = 873) and MHT (CARDIA n = 486, JHS n = 614). We estimated the prevalence of lifestyle factors including ideal body mass index (BMI), physical activity, diet, and alcohol use among participants who met office BP criteria for WCH or MHT screening. RESULTS: Among participants who met office BP criteria for WCH screening, 15.5% in CARDIA and 3.6% in JHS had 3 or more ideal lifestyle factors. Among participants who met office BP criteria for MHT screening, 22.6% in CARDIA and 4.7% in JHS had 3 or more ideal lifestyle factors. Ideal BMI, diet, and physical activity were present in less than half of participants in each sample. CONCLUSIONS: Few participants who met office BP criteria for the screening of WCH or MHT had ideal lifestyle factors.

Race/ethnic and sex differences in the initiation of non-statin lipid-lowering medication following myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) at very high-risk for recurrent events who have low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥ 70 mg/dL despite maximally-tolerated statin therapy are recommended to initiate ezetimibe or a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor. OBJECTIVE: Compare the initiation of ezetimibe and a PCSK9 inhibitor after a myocardial infarction (MI) among very high-risk ASCVD patients by race/ethnicity and sex. METHODS: We analyzed data from 374,786 adults ≥ 66 years of age with Medicare fee-for-service coverage who had an MI between July 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018, were not taking ezetimibe or a PCSK9 inhibitor, and had very high-risk ASCVD defined by the 2018 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology multi-society cholesterol guideline. Pharmacy claims through December 31, 2018 were used to determine ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitor initiation. RESULTS: Overall, 6980 (1.9%) beneficiaries initiated ezetimibe, and 1433 (0.4%) initiated a PCSK9 inhibitor. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for ezetimibe initiation among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Asian versus non-Hispanic White beneficiaries were 0.77 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.70-0.86), 0.92 (95%CI: 0.76-1.11) and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.59-0.89), respectively. Compared to non-Hispanic White beneficiaries, the aHRs for PCSK9 inhibitor initiation were 0.63 (95%CI: 0.48-0.81) among non-Hispanic Black, 0.70 (95%CI: 0.43-1.13) among Hispanic, and 0.93 (95%CI: 0.62-1.39) among Asian beneficiaries. The aHRs for ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitor initiation comparing women to men were 1.11 (95%CI: 1.06-1.17) and 1.13 (95%CI: 1.01-1.25), respectively. CONCLUSION: There are race/ethnic and sex disparities in the initiation of ezetimibe and a PCSK9 inhibitor following MI among very high-risk ASCVD patients.

Association of Race/Ethnicity-Specific Changes in Antihypertensive Medication Classes Initiated Among Medicare Beneficiaries With the Eighth Joint National Committee Panel Member Report.

Importance: In December 2013, the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC8) published a recommendation that non-Black adults initiate antihypertensive medication with a thiazide-type diuretic, calcium channel blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), whereas Black adults initiate treatment with a thiazide-type diuretic or calcium channel blocker. ß-Blockers were not recommended as first-line therapy. Objective: To assess changes in antihypertensive medication classes initiated by race/ethnicity from before to after publication of the JNC8 panel member report. Design, Setting, and Participants: This serial cross-sectional analysis assessed a 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 years or older who initiated antihypertensive medication between 2011 and 2018, were Black (n = 3303 [8.0%]), White (n = 34 943 [84.5%]), or of other (n = 3094 [7.5%]) race/ethnicity, and did not have compelling indications for specific antihypertensive medication classes. Exposures: Calendar year and period after vs before publication of the JNC8 panel member report. Main Outcomes and Measures: The proportion of beneficiaries initiating ACEIs or ARBs and, separately, ß-blockers vs other antihypertensive medication classes. Results: In total, 41 340 Medicare beneficiaries (65% women; mean [SD] age, 75.7 [7.6] years) of Black, White, or other races/ethnicities initiated antihypertensive medication and met the inclusion criteria for the present study. In 2011, 25.2% of Black beneficiaries initiating antihypertensive monotherapy did so with an ACEI or ARB compared with 23.7% in 2018 (P = .47 for trend). Among beneficiaries initiating monotherapy, the proportion filling a ß-blocker was 20.1% in 2011 and 15.4% in 2018 for White beneficiaries (P < .001 for trend), 14.2% in 2011 and 11.1% in 2018 for Black beneficiaries (P = .08 for trend), and 11.3% in 2011 and 15.0% in 2018 for beneficiaries of other race/ethnicity (P = .40 for trend). After multivariable adjustment and among beneficiaries initiating monotherapy, there was no evidence of a change in the proportion filling an ACEI or ARB before to after publication of the JNC8 panel member report overall (prevalence ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97-1.03) or in Black vs White beneficiaries (prevalence ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.83-1.12; P = .60 for interaction). Among beneficiaries initiating monotherapy, the proportion filling a ß-blocker decreased from before to after publication of the JNC8 panel member report (prevalence ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.93) with no differences across race/ethnicity groups (P > .10 for interaction). Conclusions and Relevance: A substantial proportion of older US adults who initiate antihypertensive medication do so with non-guideline-recommended classes of medication.

Cardiovascular Health and Transition From Controlled Blood Pressure to Apparent Treatment Resistant Hypertension: The Jackson Heart Study and the REGARDS Study.

Almost 1 in 5 US adults with hypertension has apparent treatment resistant hypertension (aTRH). Identifying modifiable risk factors for incident aTRH may guide interventions to reduce the need for additional antihypertensive medication. We evaluated the association between cardiovascular health and incident aTRH among participants with hypertension and controlled blood pressure (BP) at baseline in the Jackson Heart Study (N=800) and the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study (N=2316). Body mass index, smoking, physical activity, diet, BP, cholesterol and glucose, categorized as ideal, intermediate, or poor according to the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 were assessed at baseline and used to define cardiovascular health. Incident aTRH was defined by uncontrolled BP, systolic BP ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥80 mm Hg, while taking ≥3 classes of antihypertensive medication or controlled BP, systolic BP <130 mm Hg and diastolic BP <80 mm Hg, while taking ≥4 classes of antihypertensive medication at a follow-up visit. Over a median 9 years of follow-up, 605 (19.4%) participants developed aTRH. Incident aTRH developed among 25.8%, 18.2%, and 15.7% of participants with 0 to 1, 2, and 3 to 5 ideal Life's Simple 7 components, respectively. No participants had 6 or 7 ideal Life's Simple 7 components at baseline. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) for incident aTRH associated with 2 and 3 to 5 versus 0 to 1 ideal components were 0.75 (0.61-0.92) and 0.67 (0.54-0.82), respectively. These findings suggest optimizing cardiovascular health may reduce the pill burden and high cardiovascular risk associated with aTRH among individuals with hypertension.