What we learned at the Tackling Inequalities conference 2023: Hypertension case-finding

Continuing our series of articles, we share insights from NHS England’s report on key learnings from our joint Tackling Inequalities conference in January 2023. The report has been published ahead of the upcoming second conference on 16 January 2024, which will focus on tackling inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurship. This article delves into the first conference's insights on addressing inequalities in hypertension case-finding.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of premature mortality, contributing to health inequalities in England, particularly affecting lower socioeconomic groups and ethnic minorities. The NHS Long Term Plan aims to prevent up to 150,000 heart attacks, strokes, and dementia cases over a decade.

The CVDPREVENT audit in primary care addresses CVD prevention by identifying variations and trends and incorporating demographic data to address health disparities. Hypertension and hyperlipidaemia are crucial risk factors and the NHS Health Check programme, initiated in 2009, has shown positive outcomes. However, there are mixed opinions on its impact on health inequalities.

Conference participants shared practical steps being taken to address health inequalities linked to CVD, including routinely screening patients for CVD risks upon admission, medication management and regular blood pressure monitoring for hypertension. Social prescribing and community engagement, such as health checks and educational workshops, were championed as useful interventions. Participants highlighted that active participation in research projects identifies at-risk populations and evidence-based interventions for hypertension.

They went on to share ideas to address health inequalities associated with CVD, such as community-based interventions that involve reaching deprived communities through proactive events in schools, mosques, food banks and football clubs. Data collection and analysis were highlighted, encouraging the exploration of alternative data sources and emphasising the importance of collecting ethnicity data for reliable health inequality analysis. Communication strategies put forward involved providing accredited training for trusted community messengers and health professionals. Leadership and partnerships are central, participants said, advocating a collaborative approach with primary care providers, community leaders, health authorities and the third sector to effectively tackle hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.

Proposed interventions focused on prevention and outreach. Participants advocated for lifestyle modifications to combat issues like obesity, tobacco and alcohol, and promote physical activity. Building relationships and trust with communities, social prescribing champions, and local community ambassadors, were all seen as important enablers. Communication strategies should prioritise tailored advice for specific communities, such as culturally sensitive diet and exercise recommendations and there needs to be improved interfaces between primary, secondary and tertiary care. Reliable data collection strategies to evaluate interventions were highlighted as important.

Participants pledged to be advocates for GPs, promote collaboration across the healthcare system, engage with leaders to scrutinise outcome measures for reducing inequalities, and personally share acquired knowledge within their spheres of influence.

Access the full report here.

Book your place at Tackling Inequalities: Through innovation and entrepreneurship on 16 January 2024.