Effectiveness of an integrative programme in reducing hypertension incidence among the population at risk for hypertension: A community-based randomized intervention study in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based integrative programme in reducing hypertension incidence among populations at high risk for hypertension in Shanghai, Eastern China. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized intervention trial with a total of 607 participants (intervention, n = 303; control, n = 304) between October 2019 and October 2020. A total of 605 participants (intervention, n = 302; control, n = 303) completed the follow-up survey. The intervention group received an integrative programme that included health education, physician follow-up, and self-management, while the control group received usual care only. We used questionnaires to investigate risk factors, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding hypertension prevention for all participants at baseline and follow-up. We measured the incidence of hypertension according to the predefined protocol based on the national definition during the four follow-ups (only applicable to the intervention group) and the physical examination at the end of the intervention/programme/study. The difference-in-difference (DID) effects of the intervention were estimated using Generalized Estimating Equations. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age group, gender, and educational level between intervention and control groups at baseline. The integrative programme reduced the incidence of hypertension in the intervention group compared to the control group (odds ratio (OR) = 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.12-0.61). The DID analysis found that the one-year intervention has improved the level of hypertension-related knowledge and attitudes regarding diagnostic criteria, complications of hypertension, and lifestyle modification (P < 0.05). The intervention was also associated with a 3.7% increase in the behaviour change rate of “not smoking” (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.45-4.30) and a 34.8% increase in the rate of “monitoring blood pressure regularly” (OR = 29.61, 95% CI = 13.02-67.35). CONCLUSIONS: The integrative programme could reduce the risk for hypertension and improve the level of hypertension-related knowledge and attitudes, affecting the formation of healthy behaviours in high-risk populations. The community-based management for high-risk groups should be scaled up and incorporated into national hypertension control programmes, which may potentially reduce the substantial burden of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in China. REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registration number: ISRCTN74154693.