A HEALth Promotion and STRESS Management Program (HEAL-STRESS study) for prehypertensive and hypertensive patients: a
C Darviri1, A K Artemiadis1, A Protogerou2
1School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Journal of Human Hypertension
|October 2, 2015
Summary
An 8-week health promotion program significantly lowered blood pressure (BP) in prehypertensive and hypertensive patients. This lifestyle intervention improved BMI, stress, and depression, offering a promising non-pharmaceutical approach to BP management.
Area of Science:
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine
- Cardiovascular Disease Management
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Current hypertension guidelines emphasize lifestyle modifications for blood pressure (BP) control.
- Evidence for the efficacy of multifaceted health promotion programs in BP management is limited.
- Prehypertension and hypertension affect a significant portion of the community, necessitating effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week health promotion program in reducing blood pressure (BP) among prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals.
- To assess the program's impact on lifestyle factors including body mass index (BMI), smoking, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and Health Locus of Control.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental study design with a wait-list control group involving 548 patients.
- The intervention group received an 8-week health promotion program.
- Measurements included home blood pressure monitoring, smoking status, BMI, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and Health Locus of Control.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed statistically significant reductions in both systolic BP (SBP; -2.62 mmHg) and diastolic BP (DBP; -1.0 mmHg) compared to the control group.
- A greater proportion of patients in the intervention group achieved clinically significant reductions in SBP (>10 mmHg) and DBP (>5 mmHg).
- Moderate-to-large improvements were observed in BMI, perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and Health Locus of Control, with BP changes linked to BMI and depressive symptom reductions.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical health promotion programs are effective in lowering blood pressure in prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals.
- The intervention demonstrated positive effects on multiple health behaviors and psychological factors, contributing to BP management.
- Further research is needed to establish the long-term cardiovascular benefits of such programs.
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