Update course on the management of hypertension and cardiovascular risk in primary health care (ENG) 2022

Introduction
The purpose of the virtual "Update course on hypertension management and cardiovascular risk in primary health care" is to improve the clinical performance of first-level care teams in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with hypertension. The comprehensive approach to hypertension requires evaluating cardiovascular risk to define treatment, drug combinations, target goals, and the frequency and level of specialization of clinical follow-up.

This new virtual course is part of the learning resources of the HEARTS initiative in the Americas (https://www.paho.org/en/hearts-americas) and is built based on the best-accumulated experience.

HEARTS in the Americas is an initiative of the countries, led by the Ministries of Health with the participation of local stakeholders with the technical cooperation of PAHO. The Initiative seeks to integrate seamlessly and progressively into already existing health delivery services to promote the adoption of global best practices in the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and improve the performance of the services through better control of high blood pressure and the promotion of secondary prevention with emphasis on the primary health care. HEARTS is being implemented and expanded in 16 countries of the Region to include 739 health centers across the Region implementing HEARTS, which cover approximately 8 million adults in the respective catchment areas. The HEARTS model will be the model for cardiovascular disease risk management, including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia in primary health care in the Americas by 2025.

Intended audience
This course is intended for physicians, nurses, physicians and nursing assistants, pharmacists working at the primary health care level, interns, residents, and other specialists in training. In addition, teachers of health science programs, including medicine and nursing, are recommended to embed the course and make it available for their students or to incorporate it into their curriculum.

Course format
The course is placed on the platform of the Virtual Campus for Public Health of PAHO/WHO, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in a self-administered modality according to the participant’s own pace, individually or as part of professional programs and /or educational meetings in the workplace.

Course structure

Module 0: Welcome remarks
Module 1: Diagnosis of hypertension in primary health care
Module 2: Healthy Lifestyle Counselling
Module 3: Use of the HEARTS hypertension treatment protocols
Module 4: Diabetes, diagnosis and treatment
Module 5: Chronic kidney disease and hypertension
Module 6: Cardiovascular disease prevention
Module 7: Team-based care
Module 8: Cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and COVID-19