Evidence mapPaperPMID 39731689Full record

Observational studyThe International journal of health planning and management2025

Pathways to Hypertension Control: Unfinished Journeys of Low-Income Individuals in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Benjamin Palafox, Dina Balabanova, Arianna Maever Loreche, Nafiza Mat-Nasir, Farnaza Ariffin, Mazapuspavina Md-Yasin, Mohamad-Rodi Isa, Fadhlina Abd-Majid, Lia M Palileo-Villanueva, Alicia Renedo and 3 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in The International journal of health planning and management, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Hypertension control in resource-constrained settings: Bridging socioeconomic gaps with predictive insights.International journal of cardiology. Cardiovascular risk and prevention · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Benjamin PalafoxCentre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Dina BalabanovaCentre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Arianna Maever LorecheCollege of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
Nafiza Mat-NasirFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
Farnaza AriffinFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
Mazapuspavina Md-YasinFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
Mohamad-Rodi IsaFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
Fadhlina Abd-MajidFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
Lia M Palileo-VillanuevaCollege of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.ORCID 0000-0002-4635-140X
Alicia RenedoCentre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Maureen L SeguinCentre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Antonio L DansCollege of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
Martin MckeeCentre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-0121-9683

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_PC_16026UK Research and InnovationWellcome TrustWellcome Trust 200346/Z/15/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundReducing inequities in hypertension control among those affected in low- and middle-income countries requires person-centred health system responses based on a contextualised understanding of the choices and care pathways taken by those who rely on the services provided, particularly those from poor and marginalised communities. We examine patterns of care seeking and pathways followed by individuals with hypertension from low-income households in the Philippines and Malaysia. This study aims to fill a significant gap in the literature by analysing the stages at which individuals make decisions that may affect the successful control of their blood pressure.

methodsThis study presents cross-sectional survey data collected as part of the Responsive and Equitable Health Systems-Partnership on Non-Communicable Diseases (RESPOND) project, a longitudinal observational study in low-income communities. The study participants were 1191 randomly selected adults aged 35-70 years with a self-reported history of hypertension or identified as hypertensive through blood pressure screening.

resultsWhile most low-income individuals with hypertension in both countries were diagnosed and receiving medication, Malaysians demonstrated higher self-reported medication adherence. Urban areas in the Philippines showed better hypertension management outcomes compared to rural areas. The study also provides insights into the care seeking pathways followed by low-income adults diagnosed with hypertension. Nearly half of these individuals in Malaysia and a third in the Philippines were following pathways where they had never changed or stopped treatment without professional advice, and where they were using and adhering to their prescribed medication. Following such pathways was strongly associated with a greater likelihood blood pressure control in the Philippines, but less so in Malayisa.

conclusionsThese findings highlight the need for a contextualised understanding of care seeking choices and the importance of person-centred solutions. They offer a typology of hypertension care seeking pathways and a foundation for similar research in other settings.

Indexed as

HypertensionPovertyAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMalaysiaMaleMiddle AgedPatient Acceptance of Health CarePhilippinesblood pressurehypertensionlow‐income populationMalaysianon‐communicable disease controlPhilippinesprimary care

Identifiers

PMID39731689
PMCPMC11897856

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.