The relative impact of health education for low- and high-risk patients with hypertension

An experimental study was carried out to test and analyze the effects of an educational program on a group of hypertensive patients, comparing those with known higher risks of stroke and heart attack, e.g., secondary organ damage, with a group whose risks were relatively lower. Specific interventions have been shown to be differentially effective on specific patient behaviors (e.g., compliance with therapy) and on blood pressure control for both higher- and lower-risk patients in most of the experimental groups. Such findings emphasize the importance of tailored educational approaches, not only for a hypertensive population, but, more importantly, for patients who are known to have more difficulty achieving their blood pressure control and who are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality, i.e., patients who have secondary organ damage, have been previously hospitalized for hypertension, or are black males under 50 years of age.