Findings from University of Colorado Anschutz in Hypertension Provides New Insights (Blood Pressure Control Among Adherent vs Nonadherent Medicare Patients With Hypertension): Cardiovascular Diseases and Conditions – Hypertension

2026 SEP 04 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators publish new report on Cardiovascular Diseases and Conditions - Hypertension. According to news reporting originating in Denver, Colorado, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Medication adherence measures for hypertension drive financial incentives and patient care strategies for many value-based health care programs. The association between medication adherence and hypertension control as a value-based quality measure is not well described.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of Colorado Anschutz, “The objectives of this study were to compare blood pressure (BP) control among Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients who meet vs do not meet the medication adherence for hypertension (MAH) measure and compare patient and prescription factors associated with adherence vs disease control. Retrospective cohort study using linked payer and electronic health record data from a single health system. Medicare patients eligible for MAH in 2023 were categorized as adherent or nonadherent according to measure specifications, and hypertension control was defined as a primary care office BP less than 140/90 mm Hg or less than 130/80 mm Hg. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with adherence and disease control. Of the 5206 patients evaluated, 77.9% were classified as adherent to the MAH measure. Of adherent patients, 77.2% achieved a BP less than 140/90 mm Hg vs 73.5% of nonadherent patients ( P = .01), and 45.9% and 43.4%, respectively, achieved a BP of less than 130/80 mm Hg ( P = .14). White race and younger age were positively associated with hypertension control, whereas extended days’ supply and non-White race were associated with meeting the MAH measure. Patients classified as adherent were more likely to achieve a BP less than 140/90 mm Hg, but achievement of BP less than 130/80 mm Hg did not differ between groups. A sizeable proportion of patients who did not meet the adherence measure (73.5%) achieved a BP less than 140/90 mm Hg. Factors associated with adherence vs disease control differed.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Emphasis on disease control over medication adherence measures may more meaningfully reflect high-value clinical care.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Blood Pressure Control Among Adherent vs Nonadherent Medicare Patients With Hypertension. The American Journal of Managed Care, 2026;32(7). The American Journal of Managed Care can be contacted at: Managed Care & Healthcare Communications Llc, 666 Plainsboro Rd, Ste 300, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Joseph J. Saseen, University of Colorado Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Denver, CO. Additional authors for this research include Kaitlyn T. Haas, Oliver Titus, Nathan Lamberton, Lisa M. Schilling, Keri N. Hogan, Alison Marks and Sarah J. Billups.

The publisher of the The American Journal of Managed Care can be contacted at: Managed Care & Healthcare Communications Llc, 666 Plainsboro Rd, Ste 300, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)