CTOUCH

Community Targeting of Uncontrolled Hypertension

Chicago has some of the highest rates of uncontrolled high blood pressure in the country with these rates being greatest among African American and Hispanic individuals. The Community Targeting of Uncontrolled Hypertension (CTOUCH) research study is a community based hypertension intervention conducted in predominately minority communities/churches.  The primary goal of this study is to identify individuals with high blood pressure (BP >140/90 mmHg) before they develop the secondary complications associated with hypertension such as heart failure and renal failure requiring dialysis. Four community churches with predominantly African American or Latino populations located in the Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Bronzeville and Austin communities were selected because of the high rates of secondary complications from uncontrolled HTN (kidney failure and heart failure) in these communities.  Following blood pressure screening, individuals participate in an educational intervention aimed at improving understanding of high blood pressure and empowering them to control their blood pressures.