Effectiveness of multi-component modular intervention among adults with prehypertension in a village of Dakshina Kannada district - a community-based interventional study - protocol.

INTRODUCTION

The Joint National Committee (JNC 7) report on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hypertension, defined "prehypertension," as individuals with a Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) in the range of 120-139 mmHg and a (diastolic blood pressure) DBP of 80-89 mmHg. Prehypertension is directly linked with hypertension which is a precursor of CVDs. Owing to its high conversion rate to hypertension, it is important to identify individuals with blood pressures in this category and bring about lifestyle modifications in them that can prevent them from being hypertensive and from developing cardiovascular diseases later in life.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial will be done among the selected pre-hypertensive adults of all genders residing in Kateel Gram panchayat, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. A baseline survey will be done initially to assess the level of prehypertension among the study population. To study the effectiveness of the intervention, 142 individuals will be randomly allocated using block randomization technique to intervention and control groups. A multi-component module (educational intervention) will be developed, validated, and administered to participants in the intervention group, while the control group receives standard care. Each participant will then be followed up once in four months till the end of the study period of one year to assess for changes in SBP, DBP, WHR, BMI, stress levels, and usage of tobacco and alcohol.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Institutional Ethics Committee approval was obtained from Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore, India. The plans for dissemination of findings include presenting at scientific conferences and publishing in scholarly journals.