The TargetEd MAnageMent Intervention for Reducing Stroke Risk in Black Men: A 6-Month Prospective Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Stroke Prevention

Background:

• Black men have a high risk of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• Lifestyle interventions are crucial for managing stroke risk factors like elevated blood pressure (BP).
• The TEAM intervention was designed as a group program to reduce stroke risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the TEAM intervention in reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) among Black men with a history of stroke or TIA.
• To compare the TEAM intervention against a wait-list control group over a 6-month period.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month randomized controlled trial involving 160 Black men (mean age 61.2 years) with stroke or TIA.
• Participants were randomized to either the TEAM intervention group (n=78) or a wait-list control group (n=82).
• The primary outcome was the change in SBP from baseline to 6 months; biomarker data were used for participants with missed visits.

Main Results:

• Overall, the TEAM intervention did not lead to a statistically significant reduction in SBP compared to the wait-list control.
• Attrition rate was 53.1% and was similar between the intervention and control arms.
• Post-hoc analyses revealed significant SBP reductions in participants with elevated baseline BP, both in the overall sample and specifically within the TEAM group.

Conclusions:

• The TEAM intervention, as implemented, did not significantly reduce SBP in this cohort of Black men with stroke/TIA.
• Future research should focus on Black men with uncontrolled hypertension and investigate barriers to engagement in risk reduction programs.
• Targeted interventions for individuals with elevated baseline BP may be more effective in stroke risk reduction.