Impact of lifestyle interventions on reducing dietary sodium intake and blood pressure in patients with hypertension: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the impact of applying lifestyle intervention in the form of a continuous care model (CCM) on reducing dietary sodium intake and blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a 2-group design on a total of 50 patients who were hypertensive (experimental and control) as a pre-post test study. A healthy lifestyle (emphasizing physical activity and heart healthy diet) in the form of CCM, which considers the patient as an active agent in the health process, was conducted in the experimental group over a period of 4 months. The mean BP value and dietary sodium intake in both groups were measured at the beginning and the end of the study. Results: The mean sodium intake, the mean systolic BP, and the mean diastolic BP decreased to 2.42 +/- 0.73 mm Hg (from 3.12 +/- 0.79), 128.4 +/- 13.04 mm Hg (from 144.20 +/- 13.12), and 79.4 +/- 8.93 mm Hg (from 89 +/- 9.12), respectively, after the intervention in the experimental group (p=0.021, p<0.001, and p=0.011, respectively). Conclusion: Applying lifestyle intervention in the form of CCM may be recommended to reduce dietary sodium intake and mean systolic and diastolic BP in patients who are hypertensive. Considering the fact that lifestyle modifications are quite important regardless of the use of antihypertensive drugs, lifestyle intervention in the form of CCM is recommended to improve patient's adherence to dietary restrictions and consequently, treatment outcomes in patients who are hypertensive.