Rethinking Blood Pressure Quality Measurement: Accounting for Seasonal Variation in Value-Based Care.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-25-2026
Abstract
Blood pressure (BP) control is a core quality metric in value-based care (VBC). The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) Controlling High Blood Pressure (CBP) measure uses the final BP reading of the calendar year, a method that overlooks well-documented seasonal variation-BP declines in summer and rises in winter. We evaluated the impact of this pattern on measured performance in a large health system. We conducted a retrospective analysis of monthly BP control rates (July 2019 to December 2025) across the Jefferson Health-Lehigh ambulatory network, totaling 78 months and approximately 7.6 million patient-months. Summer (June to August) and winter (December to February) rates were compared using paired
First Page
19427891261445716
Last Page
19427891261445716
ISSN
1942-7905
Published In/Presented At
Stephens, J., Carter, D., Careyva, B., Gertner, E., & Kelly, C. (2026). Rethinking Blood Pressure Quality Measurement: Accounting for Seasonal Variation in Value-Based Care. Population health management, 19427891261445716. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/19427891261445716
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
42033720
Department(s)
Department of Family Medicine
Document Type
Article