A senior center-based pilot trial of the effect of lifestyle intervention on blood pressure in minority elderly people with hypertension

OBJECTIVES: To test the feasibility, acceptability, and effect of a senior center-based behavioral counseling lifestyte intervention on systolic blood pressure (BP). DESIGN: A pre-post design pilot trial of behavioral counseling for therapeutic lifestyle changes in minority elderly people with hypertension. Participants completed baseline visit, Visit 1 (approximately 6 weeks postbaseline), and a final Study Visit 2 (approximately 14 weeks postbaseline) within 4 months. SETTING: The study took place in six community-based senior centers in New York City with 6.5 seniors (mean age 72.29 +/- 6.92; 53.8% female; 84.6%, African American). PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-five minority elderly people. INTERVENTION: Six weekly and two monthly "booster" group sessions on lifestyle changes to improve BP (e.g., diet, exercise, adherence to prescribed antihypertensive medications). MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome was systolic BP (SBP) measured using an automated BP monitor. Secondary Outcomes were diastolic BP (DBP), physical activity, diet, and adherence to prescribed antihypertensive medications. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in average SBP of 13.0 +/- 21.1 mm Hg for the intervention group (t(25) = 314, P = .004) and a nonsignificant reduction In mean SBP of -10.6 +/- 30.0 mm Hg for the waitlist control group (1(29) = 1.95, P = .06). For the intervention group, adherence improved 26% (t(23) = 2.31, P = .03), and vegetable intake improved 23% (t(25) = 2.29, P = .03). CONCLUSION: This senior center-based lifestyle intervention was associated with a significant reduction in SBP and adherence to prescribed anti hypertensive medications and diet in the intervention group. Participant retention and group attendance rates suggest that implementing a group-counseling intervention in senior centers is feasible.