The Institute for Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS), in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), announces the publication of “HEARTS quality: a policy framework to strengthen hypertension and cardiovascular risk management in primary health care—insights from HEARTS in the Americas", published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.
The HEARTS Quality Framework was developed by PAHO in conjunction with representatives from ministries of health, service providers, and international experts, including the Dr. Vilma Irazola, director of the Department of Chronic Diseases at IECS.
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, causing more than 2.2 million deaths annually in the Americas. However, only 36% of adults with hypertension have their blood pressure under control, nearly 30% are unaware of their condition, and almost 40% of those receiving treatment do not reach recommended levels.
In this context, the HEARTS quality model synthesizes global evidence and regional lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean, offering a scalable, evidence-based roadmap for strengthening cardiovascular care within primary health care. This material includes outcome indicators and implementation targets to guide countries in evaluating performance and sustained progress.
The central goal of HEARTS is to ensure that 80% of people with hypertension are diagnosed, that 80% of those diagnosed receive treatment, and that 80% of those treated achieve blood pressure control. Reaching these targets by 2030 would prevent up to 400.000 deaths and 2.4 million hospitalizations.
HEARTS in the Americas is the most extensive implementation of the WHO's global HEARTS program. Of the 33 participating countries, 28 have institutionalized a standardized clinical pathway, and 12 have implemented HEARTS in more than 80% of their primary care networks. This represents over 10.000 primary healthcare facilities, more than 6.3 million people receiving treatment, and over 60% with controlled blood pressure.