Mission:
High blood pressure (hypertension) is extremely common. Uncontrolled blood pressure puts people at increased risk of developing heart disease, brain disease, and kidney disease. Yet only 1 in 4 people have their blood pressure under good control (blood pressure under 130/80 mmHg). Blood pressure control is worse in populations who traditionally face inequities, including the African American and Latinx communities.
Blood pressure control could be improved if we change the way we deliver care. There are increasing calls for home blood pressure monitoring (in addition to office measurements), and remote (virtual) blood pressure teams with nurses and pharmacists to support primary care providers in achieving blood pressure control. There is also more attention to how social determinants of health impact individuals’ ability to participate in their healthcare journey and gain maximal benefit from therapy. Community health workers can be the needed glue, helping patients access services and reinforcing plans of care.
The Pressure Check study is designed to address health inequities in hypertension (high blood pressure), providing much needed evidence about how best to control high blood pressure in our communities. This evidence will support policies and infrastructure for how we deliver care. The study is taking place in 4 cities, wherein a partnered health system in each city (Yale New Haven Health, Sentara Health, Houston Methodist, and Massachusetts General/Brigham) is collaborating with 10 community partners to screen for high blood pressure. Our community partners include churches, barbershops, community centers, and other businesses/organizations that have been historically minded around health and wellbeing.
Meet the Houston Methodist Team
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Dr. Khurram Nasir (Principal Investigator)
Khurram Nasir (MD MPH Msc) is the is a William A. Zoghbi, MD Centennial Chair in Cardiovascular Health, Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Chief of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Wellness at DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center at Houston Methodist. He is also the Director for Center for Cardiovascular Computational Health & Precision Medicine (C3-PH) at Houston Methodist. Dr. Nasir received his MD from Pakistan, followed by Master’s degree in public health at John Hopkins University. Dr. Nasir completed his internal medicine residency at Boston Medical Center and cardiology fellowship at Yale University. His research interest focuses on cardiovascular prevention, population health, big data applications and health equity and research efforts supported by 3 NIH RO1’s and 1 large multisite PCORI Contract.
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Dr. Zulquarnain Javed (Program Manager)
Zulqarnain Javed (PhD, MBBS, MPH) is a clinical epidemiologist and population health scientist with a focus on health disparities and patient centered outcomes. Dr. Javed currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiology at Houston Methodist Hospital. He also serves as the Houston Methodist site Program Manager for the PRESSURE CHECK study - a national, multi-center study to address disparities in blood pressure control. Dr. Javed's work has previously been supported by the National Institutes of Health and Association for Prevention Teaching and Research.
