Gesundheitswesen 2005; 67 - VF_V34
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-920666

Hypertension Disease Management in a German Private Health Insurance

K Lickvers 1, S Kottmair 1, DJ Ziegenhagen 1, M Müller 2, M Middeke 3
  • 1ArztPartner almeda AG, München
  • 2DKV Deutsche Krankenversicherung, Köln
  • 3Blutdruckinstitut München, München

Hintergrund/Ziele und Forschungsfragen: In July 2003 a hypertension disease management program (H-DMP)was started by a German private health insurance (DKV). The H-DMP primarily aims at patient self-management education and compliance support. First results of 800 members are available. Material und Methoden: Participation is voluntary and free of charge. The service elements encompass regular care calls, quality approved patient education material, structured and written feedback for members and physicians (health reports), as well as an individual cardiovascular risk profile for each patient. Treatment targets are in accordance with the evidence based German national hypertension guidelines. Ergebnisse: Currently 1,500 members have been enrolled in the H-DMP, while recruitment is still in progress. Mean age is 61+/-9,6 years with 81% male, 33% overweight patients with a mean BMI of 29,6 +/-11,6kg/m2.14% are smokers and 94% are under treatment with antihypertensive drugs. Results for the first 800 patients after 1year showed a significant (syst. p<0, 0001; diast. p<0,02) blood pressure reduction of 7/2mmHg and an increase in blood pressure control (<140/90) of patients from 38% to 70% for systolic and from 61% to 75% for diastolic blood pressure. Schlussfolgerungen und Diskussion: People who participate in our hypertension-DMP are relatively well treated. Nevertheless the mean blood pressure could be significantly lowered not only in the high risk group (>140/90mmHg) but also in the complete sample. Women, overweight patients and smokers as well as insufficiently treated patients are obviously not as willing to participate as expected. The preliminary findings affirm the potential of a comprehensive hypertension-DMP to increase patient's compliance and blood pressure control.