Cardiovascular disease risk management in a primary health care setting of north India.

OBJECTIVE

This study was primarily carried out to assess the feasibility of an adapted WHO CVD risk management package in a primary care setting.

METHODS

A community intervention trial was conducted in eight health posts located in rural, urban, and slum areas of northern India. After a 4 day training, eight health workers implemented the package among 1010 adults > or =30 years of age from a randomly chosen cluster of households. Locally adapted scenario 1 WHO protocol was used for the assessment of CVD risks. The health workers inquired about smoking, alcohol, diet, physical activity, symptoms of angina, and transient ischaemic attacks; and measured systolic blood pressure (SBP7), height, and weight. Those with a risk were counseled and referred to a physician. Hypertensives were followed at 1, 3, and 5-month interval to reinforce risk prevention and adherence to treatment. In a 20% random sub sample, in the study and control area before and after the intervention, WHO STEPS instrument was used to evaluate effectiveness of the package.

FINDINGS

After training, the knowledge of health workers regarding risk factors and symptoms of CVDs increased from 47% to 92.5%, and their performance in detection of risks was comparable to the investigator. All health workers could pay scheduled home visits regularly. They referred 279 (27.6%) individuals having raised systolic blood pressure (SBP), and 74.5% contacted the doctor. Significant decrease in mean SBP (8.8 mm Hg) was observed during follow-up. Significantly higher reports of intention to quit tobacco (60.3% vs 25.5%) and regular intake of anti-hypertensive medication (58.3% vs 34.8%) were observed in the intervention area compared to the control area.

CONCLUSION

Adapted WHO CVD risk management package can be implemented through primary care system.