Delaware aims to lower hypertension rates across the state
Some 34.6 percent of Delawareans have hypertension, aka high blood pressure, which is the leading cause of stroke.
The state of Delaware has the fourth-highest rate of mortality from stroke in the entire country.
The American Heart Association has gathered a group of advocates, hospital and private practice representatives, like-minded nonprofit organizations, physicians and nurses to form the Delaware Hypertension Control Network. The group’s goal is to change the trajectory of Delawareans’ health and to achieve more than 70 percent or greater hypertension control across the state by 2024.
In addition to the American Heart Association, these organizations have agreed to collaborate to prioritize Delawareans’ health: African Methodist Episcopal Church; Bayhealth; Beebe Healthcare; ChristianaCare; Delaware Department of Health; Delaware Division of Libraries; Encompass Health; Henrietta Johnson Medical Center; JP Morgan Chase; Mountaire Farms; Quality Insights; St. Francis Healthcare; and University of Delaware.
The Delaware Hypertension Control Network is supported by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, the Happy Difference Foundation, the M&T Charitable Foundation, and E. Thomas “Thom” Harvey III and Robin Adair Harvey.
Thom Harvey, CEO and chairman of Harvey Hanna & Associates Inc., has been personally impacted by the effects of stroke. “High blood pressure is an epidemic across the state of Delaware, and we know that we can do better,” said Harvey. “Hispanics and African are 50 to 60 percent more likely to have a stroke due to family history and social determinants of health, like access to quality care and nutritious food. The collective efforts of this group can make a huge impact on the health of people in our state.”
With a multi-pronged effort to raise awareness about blood pressure symptoms and educate residents statewide about how to prevent, treat and manage blood pressure over a three-year period, the Delaware Hypertension Control Network aims to lower the percentage of residents in the state who have high blood pressure and ultimately lower the risk of stroke in Delaware.
Three key areas of focus are to increase hypertension control through screening and follow-up, to establish best practices at primary care offices and FWHCs and health systems across the state, and to collect meaningful data to improve patient quality around hypertension in the state.
To learn how to monitor blood pressure at home, go to heart.org.
For more information from the American Stroke Association, call 1-888-4STROKE, 1-888-478-7653, or go to stroke.org.
