Integrating hypertension and diabetes management in primary health care settings: HEARTS as a tool

Hypertension and diabetes are modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors that contribute to nearly one-third of all deaths in the Americas Region each year (2.3 million deaths). Despite advances in the detection and clinical management of hypertension and diabetes, there are substantial gaps in their implementation globally and in the Region. The considerable overlap in risk factors, prognosis, and treatment of hypertension and diabetes creates a unique opportunity for a unified implementation model for management at the population level.

Evaluating progress and addressing actions to eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids in the Americas

Objective

To evaluate the progress toward the 2023 target for the elimination of industrially produced transfatty acids (IP-TFA) in the Region of the Americas and to highlight the achievements of the four strategic lines of action from the Plan of Action for the Elimination of IP-TFA 2020-2025.

Building the health-economic case for scaling up the WHO-HEARTS hypertension control package in low- and middle-income countries

Generally, hypertension control programs are cost-effective, including in low- and middle-income countries, but country governments and civil society are not likely to support hypertension control programs unless value is demonstrated in terms of public health benefits, budget impact, and value-for-investment for the individual country context.

Ups and downs of hypertension control in Canada: critical factors and lessons learned

As the leading risk for death, population control of increased blood pressure represents a major challenge for all countries of the Americas. In the early 1990’s, Canada had a hypertension control rate of 13%. The control rate increased to 68% in 2010, accompanied by a sharp decline in cardiovascular disease. The unprecedented improvement in hypertension control started around the year 2000 when a comprehensive program to implement annually updated hypertension treatment recommendations started. The program included a comprehensive monitoring system for hypertension control.

HEARTS in the Americas appraisal checklist and clinical pathway for comprehensive hypertension management in primary care

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the Region of the Americas, and hypertension represents its main risk factor. However, population hypertension control rates in the Region are poor. Global Hearts is the World Health Organization's flagship initiative to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. HEARTS in the Americas Initiative is its regional adaptation that seeks to be the cardiovascular disease risk management model, including hypertension and diabetes, in primary health care throughout the Americas by 2025.

Children and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a Caribbean perspective

This study aims to assess coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance methods, health resources, vaccination coverage and income stratification and quantify burdens of disease and death in children and adolescents in the Caribbean. The investigation was a descriptive, cross-sectional study that included 15 Caribbean countries/territories and utilized surveys and secondary data sources. Quarantine and isolation measures were robust and surveillance strategies were similar.

Current status of the knowledge on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Americas

Objectives

To present the state-of-the-knowledge on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Region of the Americas.

Methods

A search of publications on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Americas was performed in PubMed and LILACS databases from January 2007 to June 2021. In addition, a manual literature search on articles on the epidemiology of tungiasis was performed.

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