The HTN:CVD EstimaTool estimates the number of deaths that could be averted by scaling up hypertension control in the population. The purpose of the tool is to help professionals in charge of cardiovascular disease prevention and control programs to determine the impact of hypertension control on mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the population. And consequently, inform health authorities, decision makers and those who formulate public health policies.
The tool uses predictive models developed by a research team using data from 36 countries and territories of the Region of the Americas from 1990 to 2019 and summarized an article published in the Pan American Journal of Public Health.
How to use HTN:CVD EstimaTool
The HTN:CVD EstimaTool contains a left-side section with parameters that allow the user to set specific scenarios. On the right side, the tool displays the results using visual forms.
By default, HTN:CVD EstimaTool presents a scenario for the Region of the Americas, with a population size of 1,031,377,044 inhabitants, where the prevalence of population hypertension control will be scaled up from 36.4%, (level in 2019) to 50.4% in five years, as a result of improving the prevalence of diagnosis of hypertension (awareness) of from 69.8% to 80.0%, improving the prevalence of treatment of hypertension from 86.4% to 90.0%, and scaling up the prevalence of hypertension control among those under treatment from 60.4% to 70.0%.
Users can change the default value of the parameters located on the left side of the tool -e.g., location name and population size, baseline and target level of awareness, treated among those aware of the condition, hypertension control among treated, population hypertension control, and the number of years to reach the target- to set specific scenarios and visualize the impact on IHD and stroke mortality for a given population.
To facilitate user interaction and experience, the tool provides a reference table containing estimates of population size, and indicators of the hypertension treatment cascade of the Region of the Americas, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and 36 countries and territories for 2019. The reference table is displayed by clicking on the menu icon located on the right side of point 1. – Location and population size.
Once this table is displayed, the user can examine the data and select a specific location and data by clicking on the corresponding row. Note that by clicking on a row of the table, data are assigned to parameters: location name, population size, and baseline of the hypertension treatment cascade. By clicking again over the menu icon, the reference table is hidden.
The user can directly change any value by typing in any of the baseline and/or target controls. Changes in values of awareness, treatment, and hypertension control among treated will calculate the corresponding value of population hypertension control, either baseline or target. Changes in values of the targets are displayed in the bar chart hypertension treatment cascade indicator targets. Hovering over this bar chart will assign the computed values of the population hypertension control to the baseline and target, and the results will be dynamically updated.
Finally, the user can define the number of years in which the set target will be reached.
The Summary of results presents a text summarizing the results of the set scenario.
The results of the tool can be downloaded as an image, pdf file, or PowerPoint by clicking on the Download icon of the toolbar located beneath the tool.
Additional information about methods
Detailed information on the study and methods used by this tool is available in the article:
Martinez R, Soliz P, Campbell NRC, Lackland DT, Whelton PK, Ordunez P. Association between population hypertension control and ischemic heart disease and stroke mortality in 36 countries of the Americas, 1990-2019: an ecological study. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2022;46:e143. https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2022.143