Workplace focused programs may aid in hypertension control

1. Workplace wellness programs and health promotion may be an effective addition to standardized management of hypertension to improve health outcomes of employees.

Evidence Rating: 1 (Excellent)

Globally, it is estimated that roughly a quarter of the World’s population has hypertension. Despite appropriate blood pressure (BP) control being a priority given its proven effect ability to reduce stroke and cardiovascular disease risk, a substantial proportion of affected individuals struggle to meet target pressures on conventional management.  In this cluster randomized clinical trial consisting of 4166 participants, researchers sought to investigate whether or not integration of a workplace health promotion strategy across 60 workplaces would be an effective addictive to standardized management to reach target pressures. Health promotion included factors such as CVD health education, healthy diet promotion, tobacco cessation, exercise promotion, physical environment promotion, stress management, and health screening. Of the 3178 participants assigned to the intervention group, only 19.5% had adequate BP control, versus 20.1% in the control group, After 24 months of intervention, the intervention group had significantly higher rates of BP control (66.2% vs. 44%; odds ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.58 – 2.00; P <.001), with an average systolic pressure decrease of 5.8mmHg and diastolic pressure decrease of 3.6mmHg. Additionally, the intervention group benefited from other factors as well, such as greater rates of reduction in drinking, perceived stress, and excessive use of salt in diet. These findings continue to reinforce the importance of lifestyle modifications on overall health outcomes and hypertension management, and provide strong evidence for the workplace as a target for intervention.

Click to read the study in JAMA Cardiology

Image: PD

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