Singapore, Jan 11, 2012: AtCor Medical, the developer and marketer of SphygmoCor®, the leading central aortic blood pressure measurement system, announced that three influential US medical doctors’ organizations have endorsed the use of non-invasive central blood pressure assessment to improve diagnosis and management of hypertension.
The National Medical Association (NMA), The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) and the Association of Minority Nephrologists (AOMN) have issued a joint statement, a copy of which is provided below. The associations have a strong history of advocacy for the United States’ 39 million African Americans.
The three national physicians associations have adopted the following policy positions:
• Central blood pressure measurement is a valuable, noninvasive tool in the treatment of hypertension, especially in African Americans. Central blood pressure gives valuable information to the physician, and thus may lead to improved therapeutic decisions and ultimately better control of blood pressure.
• Central blood pressure should be added to the measurements utilized by physicians and other clinicians diagnosing and treating African Americans.
The associations encourage implementation of central blood pressure measurement to treat hypertension, adding that there should be no impediment to the doctor, including, but not limited to, access, reimbursement and eligibility requirements.
“The use of central blood pressure monitoring is a great step in the advancement of effective treatment in all Americans, but particularly those populations like African Americans, with increased rates and inadequate treatment,” said Mr Cedric Bright MD, FACP, president of NMA, which represents 50,000 African American physicians and the patients they serve.
Mr Duncan Ross, CEO of AtCor Medical, said: “We are delighted by this powerful endorsement of central blood pressure measurement. The support of leading medical associations is a major step forward in the adoption of noninvasive central aortic blood pressure measurement. Physicians’ leadership is an important driver and will encourage favourable coverage and coding decisions that support equitable reimbursement.”
African Americans represent more than 13 percent of the US population. Cardiovascular disease related to hypertension and arterial stiffness is a major problem for all Americans, but it is an especially critical problem for African Americans who have higher rates of hypertension as well as kidney disease and heart failure, both related to hypertension.
“Studies using SphygmoCor have established the importance of central aortic blood pressure measurement in African Americans,” Mr Ross said. “The studies show that African Americans have stiffer arteries than Caucasians and, as a result, higher central aortic blood pressure. Also, central aortic blood pressure in African Americans can respond differently to hypertension medications.”
“The unified support for central pressure measurement we have seen from these three physician organisations reflects growing recognition of the importance of central pressure assessment by the medical community at large,” Mr Ross added.