Tulane Study: Team Care Improves BP Control in Low-Income Patients

A new study led by researchers at Tulane University has shown that a team-based care model significantly improves blood pressure control among low-income patients with uncontrolled hypertension, offering a promising approach to address health disparities in underserved communities.

The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 1,272 patients aged 40 and older at 36 federally qualified health centers in Louisiana and Mississippi. These nonprofit clinics serve individuals with limited financial resources and access to care, particularly in regions with high rates of hypertension. Participants had blood pressure readings above the clinical threshold despite prior treatments or lifestyle efforts, with average starting systolic pressures around 147 to 148 mm Hg.

The intervention combined multiple elements: multidisciplinary teams followed evidence-based protocols for medication management, provided health coaching on diet, exercise, and adherence either in person or virtually, and distributed home monitoring kits to encourage self-tracking. Teams also received education on findings from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial, which supports...