HEARTS technical package: Tool for the development of a consensus protocol for treatment of hypertension

Overview

The creation and endorsement of a detailed and standardized treatment protocol is a critical first step in developing a successful large-scale hypertension programme. Standardized drug- and dose-specific treatment protocols have been shown to be superior to individualized treatment, and also facilitate the logistics of drug procurement, task sharing, staff training, data collection, and quality reporting.

As more experience with treatment of hypertension is gained, it has become clear that the great majority of patients can be effectively treated with a single protocol. There are many examples of evidence-based hypertension treatment protocols, such as those listed in the WHO HEARTS technical package module Evidence based protocols. Using these and other published protocols, with a focus on assessing the suitability for use in the local context, it is possible to develop a consensus protocol appropriate for their country or subnational area.