Implementing DASH-aligned Congregate Meals and Self-Measured Blood Pressure in two senior centers: An open label...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) disproportionately affects seniors in low-income and minority communities.
• Senior centers are vital hubs for delivering health services to older adults.
• Existing congregate meal programs can be leveraged to implement health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating DASH-aligned meals and Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) monitoring into senior center programs.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on blood pressure control among senior participants.
• To address cardiovascular health disparities in vulnerable senior populations.

Main Methods:

• An open-label study involving participants aged 60+ at two New York City senior centers.
• Interventions included DASH-aligned congregate meals, nutrition education, and training in SMBP.
• Co-primary outcomes measured changes in systolic blood pressure and the percentage of participants with controlled blood pressure.

Main Results:

• Mean systolic blood pressure decreased by -4.41 mmHg at Month 1 (n=61, p=0.07).
• The percentage of participants with controlled blood pressure increased by 15.7% at Month 1.
• Mean systolic SMBP showed a significant decrease of -6.9 mmHg at Months 5/6 (p=0.004).

Conclusions:

• Implementing a multi-component blood pressure-lowering intervention in senior centers is feasible.
• Early findings suggest the intervention is effective for reducing blood pressure in older adults.
• This approach shows promise for cardiovascular risk reduction and warrants further investigation for broader implementation.