A number of strategies have been evaluated to improve the prevention and control of the main cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors. Nursing telephonic and tele-counseling individualized lifestyle educational programs were found to improve blood pressure (BP) control and adherence to healthy lifestyle. This study aims at evaluating for the first time the efficacy of a nurse-led reminder program through email (NRP-e) to improve CVD risk factors among hypertensive adults.

Participants will receive usual care and a guideline-based educational program on BP control and healthy lifestyle habits. Subjects in the NRP-e group will also receive weekly email alerts and phone calls from a nurse care manager for 6 months. Emails contain a reminder program on the compliance with a healthy lifestyle based upon current guidelines for CVD prevention. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at 1, 3 and 6 months after enrollment; randomization will be made centrally and blood samples will be evaluated into a single, accredited laboratory.

Inclusion Criteria:

• to be eligible, all subjects had to be hypertensive (on active treatment for hypertension, or systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg; or
• diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg).
• speaking and reading Italian,
• having a active phone number and an email address, and
• providing a signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• mental illness;
• nursing home institutionalization;
• pregnancy;
• previous cardiovascular major events, non-modifiable cardiovascular risk-factors (i.e. diabetes).