Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and heart failure, contributing to about three-quarters of acute cardiovascular events. The American Heart Association (AHA) launched an initiative to improve blood pressure control across 14 health care organizations and 14 community-based organizations (CBOs) in Buffalo, Columbus, and Houston. Community-based blood pressure stations offer regular monitoring opportunities outside clinical settings, empowering individuals and raising awareness of hypertension risks. Integrated with clinical care, these stations connect individuals to medical care, follow-up, and chronic disease management, improving health outcomes through referrals and education. This approach is scalable, equitable, and sustainable for preventing and managing hypertension.
Methods: CBOs began reporting monthly hypertension screening data in June 2024 via an online portal. Data included the number of individuals screened, those with elevated blood pressure (per AHA Guidelines), and referrals provided. Interviews with the 14 CBOs in early 2025 gathered detailed information on station locations, setup, training, referral processes, and success stories.
Results: By March 2025, 14 CBOs reported 10,248 hypertension screenings at AHA-sponsored stations. There were 554 individuals with elevated readings and 269 referrals to care. Referrals were made to primary physicians, local clinics, walk-in and emergency care clinics, and hospital emergency departments. Reasons for not making referrals included individuals already under a physician’s care or taking hypertension medication, and lack of CBO staff to monitor stations. Interviews revealed trends such as increased recognition of hypertension symptoms and management, and the importance of AHA educational materials. Barriers to referrals included lack of insurance, cultural barriers, and resource availability like transportation and affordability of other services.
Conclusions: The AHA initiative effectively partnered with CBOs to launch community-based blood pressure screening stations in three markets. CBO partners reported high satisfaction and positive feedback from individuals using the stations, though there are opportunities for improvement in implementation.