THE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE MEASURES ON BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AMONG ADULT HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA.

Abstract

Aim: The study was undertaken to determine the effect of change in lifestyle measures on blood pressure control among adult hypertensive patients. Methods: The study was a randomized controlled trial involving hypertensive adults aged 20 years and above presenting in the General Outpatients' Clinic (GOPC) of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). Participants were consecutively selected and randomized to an intervention group that was offered structured counselling on lifestyle modification and a control group that was offered routine advice only. Participants in both groups were also taking antihypertensive medications. Participants were followed up monthly for twelve weeks and adherence to lifestyle modification measures noted. The proportion of observed changes were analysed using Chi square and Fischer's exact tests. The means at 95% confidence intervals of the blood pressure values were determined using the independent t-test. Data was analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant in all analyses. Results: Changes in lifestyle measures were notably more among the intervention group. There was a greater reduction in the average blood pressure values of the intervention group compared to the control group after twelve weeks and the difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) was statistically significant. The mean SBP difference was 5.5 mmHg (0.43, 10.5; 95% CI) and the mean diastolic (DBP) difference was 2.76 mmHg (-1.32, 5.66, 95% CI). Conclusion: Findings from the study show that lifestyle modifications during a period of 12 weeks following structured counselling in hypertensive adults can help to control or reduce blood pressure.