Assessment of Hypertension Complications and Health Service Use 5 Years After Implementation of a Multicomponent Intervention.

Importance: There is a lack of information regarding the impact of implementing a protocol-driven, team-based, multicomponent intervention in public primary care settings on hypertension-related complications and health care burden over the long term. Objective: To compare hypertension-related complications and health service use at 5 years among patients managed with Risk Assessment and Management Program for Hypertension (RAMP-HT) vs usual care. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this population-based prospective matched cohort study, patients were followed up until the date of all-cause mortality, an outcome event, or last follow-up appointment before October 2017, whichever occurred first. Participants included 212 707 adults with uncomplicated hypertension managed at 73 public general outpatient clinics in Hong Kong between 2011 and 2013. RAMP-HT participants were matched to patients receiving usual care using propensity score fine stratification weightings. Statistical analysis was conducted from January 2019 to March 2023. Interventions: Nurse-led risk assessment linked to electronic action reminder system, nurse intervention, and specialist consultation (as necessary), in addition to usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures: Hypertension-related complications (cardiovascular diseases, end-stage kidney disease), all-cause mortality, public health service use (overnight hospitalization, attendances at accident and emergency department, specialist outpatient clinic, and general outpatient clinic). Results: A total of 108 045 RAMP-HT participants (mean [SD] age: 66.3 [12.3] years; 62 277 [57.6%] female) and 104 662 patients receiving usual care (mean [SD] age 66.3 [13.5] years; 60 497 [57.8%] female) were included. After a median (IQR) follow-up of 5.4 (4.5-5.8) years, RAMP-HT participants had 8.0% absolute risk reduction in cardiovascular diseases, 1.6% absolute risk reduction in end-stage kidney disease, and 10.0% absolute risk reduction in all-cause mortality. After adjusting for baseline covariates, the RAMP-HT group was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular diseases (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.61-0.64), end-stage kidney disease (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.50-0.59), and all-cause mortality (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.50-0.54) compared with the usual care group. The number needed to treat to prevent 1 cardiovascular disease event, end-stage kidney disease, and all-cause mortality was 16, 106, and 17, respectively. RAMP-HT participants had lower hospital-based health service use (incidence rate ratios ranging from 0.60 to 0.87) but more general outpatient clinic attendances (IRR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.06-1.06) compared with usual care patients. Conclusions and Relevance: In this prospective matched cohort study involving 212 707 primary care patients with hypertension, participation in RAMP-HT was associated with statistically significant reductions in all-cause mortality, hypertension-related complications, and hospital-based health service use after 5 years.

The Role of the Allergist in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Allergy Safety: A Pilot Study on a "Hub-and-Spoke" Model for Population-Wide Allergy Service.

BACKGROUND: Hong Kong started its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program in February 2021. A territory-wide Vaccine Allergy Safety (VAS) clinic was set up to assess individuals deemed at "higher risk" of COVID-19 vaccine-associated allergies. A novel "hub-and-spoke" model was piloted to tackle the overwhelming demand of services by allowing nonallergists to conduct assessment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of the VAS hub-and-spoke model for allergy assessment. METHODS: Records of patients attending the VAS hub-and-spoke Clinics between March and August 2021 were reviewed (n = 2725). We studied the overall results between the Hub (allergist led) and Spoke (nonallergist led) Clinics. The Hub and the Hong Kong West Cluster Spoke Clinic were selected for subgroup analysis as they saw the largest number of patients (n = 1411). RESULTS: A total of 2725 patients were assessed under the VAS hub-and-spoke model. Overall, 2324 patients (85.3%) were recommended to proceed with vaccination. Allergists recommended significantly more patients for vaccination than nonallergists (odds ratio = 21.58; P < .001). Subgroup analysis revealed that 881 of 1055 (83.5%) patients received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination safely after assessment. Among those recommended vaccination, more patients assessed by allergists received their first dose of vaccination (odds ratio = 4.18; P < .001). CONCLUSION: The hub-and-spoke model has proven to be successful for the vaccination campaign. This study has illustrated the crucial role of allergists in countering vaccine hesitancy. Results from the study revealed considerable differences in outcomes between allergist-led and nonallergist-led clinics. Precise reasons for these differences warrant further evaluation. We are hopeful that the hub-and-spoke model can be similarly adapted for other allergist-integrative services in the future.