Prevention of hypertension in patients with prehypertension in the rural areas of China: a community-based quasi-experiment

Background

People with prehypertension are highly likely to develop hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modifications may prevent hypertension in patients with prehypertension, but evidence remains scarce in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate whether a community-based intervention could prevent hypertension through lifestyle modifications in people with prehypertension in the rural areas of China.

Methods

A community-based quasi-experiment design was applied. Eighteen villages from six townships in Sheyang county, a rural area in eastern China, were randomly sampled. Of these local residents, patients with prehypertension—a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120–139 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80–89 mm Hg—and who were 30–60 years old were screened. Participants from three of the townships (n=206) were randomly assigned to the intervention group, and those from the other three townships (n=250) were assigned to the control group. At the outset, intervention group participants received individual consultations from a community health management team to assess their self-management ability, determine their lifestyle, set goals for a healthier lifestyle, and design individualised action plans. A guideline booklet was provided to intervention group participants, which contained detailed explanations of hypertension, prehypertension, healthy lifestyles and their impacts, and methods to lose weight, cease smoking, and deal with mental pressure. Intervention group participants also received quarterly follow-ups to assess the implementation of action plans, identify difficulties in changing unhealthy lifestyles, and find feasible solutions. In both intervention and control groups, usual care was provided to participants according to national guidelines, and the available resources were the same across the townships. Evaluations were conducted at baseline, and at the end of months 6, 12, 18, and 30. Between-group analyses were performed using repeated measures ANOVA. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants.

Findings

At 30 months, 18 participants in the intervention group (n=188) showed progression to hypertension, whereas 47 in the control group (n=234) developed hypertension. This difference between intervention and control groups was statistically significant (9·6 vs 20·1%, p=0·007). Significant changes in DBP (–2·7 vs 0·7 mmHg, p<0·0001), weight (–0·79 vs ?0·66 kg, p=0·029), and daily walking steps (11?500 vs 8000 steps, p<0·0001) were observed between intervention and control groups. No differential effects were found for SBP, drinking, and smoking, with both groups showing substantial improvements.

Interpretation

This intervention could prevent hypertension among patients with prehypertension by improving health-related behaviours. This study might be one of the first community-based experiments implemented among people with prehypertension in the rural areas of China. Further investigations are required to assess the sustainability of this intervention.

Funding

This study was funded by the Postgraduates Innovation Project of Jiangsu Province (KYZZ15_0267).