Figure 1
National roadmap for improving blood pressure control through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and adherence. BP, blood pressure; CV, cardiovascular
Table 1
Action plan for HTN control structured across four key pillars
| Pillar | Key objective | Key actions |
|---|---|---|
| I. Prevention | Reducing HTN incidence through education and environmental and lifestyle changes | - Reduce salt intake (<5 g/day) and increase potassium through food reformulation and culinary education |
| - Promote healthy dietary patterns (DASH, Mediterranean) and weight control- | ||
| - Limit alcohol, lower smoking rates | ||
| - Encourage ≥150 min/week of physical activity; build infrastructure for walking/cycling | ||
| - Health education campaigns in schools | ||
| - Public policies: front-of-pack labelling, sodium reduction targets and taxation | ||
| - Continuous training of healthcare professionals | ||
| - Digital solutions: mHealth & telemedicine | ||
| II. Diagnosis | Early detection and systematic monitoring | - Public blood pressure screening campaigns |
| - Establishment of a National Resistant HTN Registry | ||
| - Observational studies to evaluate Guidelines implementation | ||
| - Involvement of pharmacists in accurate BP measurement and patient counselling | ||
| - Public campaigns (printed, audio-video) dedicated for correct blood pressure measurements at home | ||
| III. Treatment | Optimising BP control through standardised care and access | - Standardised treatment protocols; early initiation with SPC |
| - Reducing therapeutic inertia | ||
| - Integration of telemedicine | ||
| - Health innovation across the care network | ||
| IV. Adherence | Sustaining treatment and lifestyle changes long-term | - Identification of the barriers (international and national surveys) |
| - National digital system for medication and appointment reminders | ||
| - Integration of adherence questionnaires with alerts for non-adherence | ||
| - Support programmes (e.g., peer mentorship groups) | ||
| - Empathetic communication training for physicians and pharmacists | ||
| - Educational materials and guidelines adapted to literacy levels and cultural context |