Subgroup analyses showed smaller sample s reporting larger effect sizes ; intervention lasting less than 6 months showed larger effect sizes and intention-to-treat analysis showed smaller effect sizes Lifestyle interventions may be of value in preventing and reducing blood pressure in LMICs .
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of antihypertensive medication , hypertension remains poorly controlled in low and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .
A significant decrease in blood pressure through a family-based nutrition health education programme among community residents in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect on decrease in blood pressure of modifying risk factors for stroke , such as blood lipid profiles , diet habits and indices of body weight , through a family-based nutrition health education programme among hypertensive patients and pre-hypertensive subjects without taking any antihypertensive drugs . DESIGN AND SETTING This was a community-based prospect i ve study . The study population was r and omly selected from communities in Taipei ; potential subjects were invited by telephone to participate . SUBJECTS After excluding subjects whose blood pressure was normal and those using antihypertensive drugs , there were 390 participants included in the study . Subjects in the intervention group ( n 293 ) received nutrition health education on blood pressure control and stroke-related risk factor modification at each visit . Non-intervention subjects ( n 97 ) only acquired a general education sheet available in clinics . The blood pressure of study subjects was measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up to evaluate the intervention 's effect on decrease in blood pressure . RESULTS Significant decreases of 2.0 mmHg and 5.9 mmHg in systolic blood pressure were observed both in pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects in the intervention group . Additionally , intervention subjects with improvement of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol , decrease in indices of body weight and increase in consumption of fruit and vegetables also had significant lowering of blood pressure . CONCLUSIONS The present study provided evidence that the blood pressure of pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects could decrease significantly , without taking antihypertensive drugs , after modifying blood lipid profiles and waist by dietary habits changed through a family-based nutrition heath education programme , result ing in a significant effect on stroke risk reduction
Subgroup analyses showed smaller sample s reporting larger effect sizes ; intervention lasting less than 6 months showed larger effect sizes and intention-to-treat analysis showed smaller effect sizes Lifestyle interventions may be of value in preventing and reducing blood pressure in LMICs .
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of antihypertensive medication , hypertension remains poorly controlled in low and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .