Researchers Launch Physician Outreach

Researchers in the largest high bloodpressure (BP) clinical trial ever are launchingan outreach program to improve BP awarenessand control across the country. About150 physicians in 34 states and Washington,DC, have completed training to educateother local physicians. The goal is to helpphysicians and patients prevent high BP andtreat it more effectively.

The outreach is a follow-up to theAntihypertensive and Lipid-lowering Treatmentto Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT)and is being sponsored in cooperation withthe National High BP Education Program.The ALLHAT study compared the effects of 4major classes of medications to treat highBP, and more than 42,000 people aged 55and older took part (December 2002 editionof the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation).