Lifestyle modification advice for lowering or controlling high blood pressure: who's getting it?

Lifestyle modifications (LSMs) are important in hypertension management. Using data from a population-based sample of hypertensive adults (N=28,457), the authors examined variations in reports of receipt of LSM advice by patient characteristics. Most adults (90.3%) with known hypertension reported receiving some type of advice. Exercise advice was reported most frequently (74.6%), followed by advice to reduce salt intake (69.3%), change eating habits (61.9%), and reduce alcohol intake (43.5%). Compared with adults aged 60 years or older, persons aged 18 to 39 years were more likely to report receipt of advice (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.81). Overweight persons (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.40-1.93) and obese persons (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 2.28-3.31) were more likely to report receipt of advice. Persons receiving antihypertensive medication were also more likely to report receiving advice (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.98-2.81). This study demonstrates that older persons, persons not taking antihypertensive medication, and individuals who are not overweight or obese are less likely to report receiving LSM advice.