Effects of an Integrated System Approach on Hypertension Management in Community Dwelling Older Adults
With the aging of the population, the health status of older adults has drawn a great deal of attention from health professionals since their health and nutrition status can significantly impact the U.S. health care systems and social services. Among major chronic diseases, elevated blood pressure represents a primary risk factor for cardiovascular complications and cognitive decline, and loss of autonomy later in life. Two-thirds of older adults have hypertension, and this group has the lowest blood pressure control rate. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan has been suggested as an integral part of hypertension management. Along with a healthy diet, regular exercise and self measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) are also well-proven lifestyle modification strategies to improve heart health.
The DASH-Plus is an integrated project that aims to build a sustainable, community-based hypertension management program by combining research methodologies, an extension system, and educational activities. To achieve this goal, we develop, implement and evaluate a theory-driven, community-based hypertension self-management program. The intervention consists of DASH-plus education (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet with exercise and HTN self-care skills), produce delivery to increase accessibility, and self-measured blood pressure monitoring. Further, a culture of heath will be promoted through a peer support model. Eventually, the program will be disseminated through the
extension system.
By leveraging existing resources from the aging network, extension, produce delivery approach, and education system, the project demonstrates creative and feasible means to tackle uncontrolled blood pressure in older adults.
Funding source) USDA.AFRI Diet, Nutrition and Prevention of Chronic Disease, Award No. 2021-68015-33435
