Does Compassion Predict Blood Pressure and Hypertension? The Modifying Role of Familial Risk for Hypertension

Background

This study investigated (i) whether compassion is associated with blood pressure or hypertension in adulthood and (ii) whether familial risk for hypertension modifies these associations.

Method

The participants (N = 1112–1293) came from the prospective Young Finns Study. Parental hypertension was assessed in 1983–2007; participants’ blood pressure in 2001, 2007, and 2011; hypertension in 2007 and 2011 (participants were aged 30–49 years in 2007–2011); and compassion in 2001.

Results

High compassion predicted lower levels of diastolic and systolic blood pressure in adulthood. Additionally, high compassion was related to lower risk for hypertension in adulthood among individuals with no familial risk for hypertension (independently of age, sex, participants’ and their parents’ socioeconomic factors, and participants’ health behaviors). Compassion was not related to hypertension in adulthood among individuals with familial risk for hypertension.

Conclusion

High compassion predicts lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure in adulthood. Moreover, high compassion may protect against hypertension among individuals without familial risk for hypertension. As our sample consisted of comparatively young participants, our findings provide novel implications for especially early-onset hypertension.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12529-020-09886-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The effects of weight loss and salt reduction on visit-to-visit blood pressure variability: results from a multicenter randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

As evidence suggests visit-to-visit variability (VVV) of blood pressure (BP) is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality, there is increasing interest in identifying interventions that reduce VVV of BP. We investigated the effects of weight loss and sodium reduction, alone or in combination, on VVV of BP in participants enrolled in phase II of the Trials of Hypertension Prevention.

METHODS

BP readings were taken at 6-month intervals for 36 months in 1820 participants with high-normal DBP who were randomized to weight loss, sodium reduction, combination (weight loss and sodium reduction), or usual care groups. VVV of BP was defined as the SD of BP across six follow-up visits.

RESULTS

VVV of SBP was not significantly different between participants randomized to the weight loss (7.2 ± 3.1  mmHg), sodium reduction (7.1 ± 3.0  mmHg), or combined (6.9 ± 2.9  mmHg) intervention groups vs. the usual care group (6.9 ± 2.9  mmHg). In a fully adjusted model, no difference (0.0 ± 0.2  mmHg) in VVV of SBP was present between individuals who successfully maintained their weight loss vs. individuals who did not lose weight during follow-up (P = 0.93). Also, those who maintained a reduced sodium intake throughout follow-up did not have lower VVV of SBP compared to those who did not reduce their sodium intake (0.1 ± 0.3  mmHg; P = 0.77). Results were similar for VVV of DBP.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that weight loss and sodium reduction may not be effective interventions for lowering VVV of BP in individuals with high-normal DBP.

The impact of lifestyle medicine continuing education on provider knowledge, attitudes, and counseling behaviors

BACKGROUND

There is a need for effective continuing medical education (CME) programs to increase healthcare providers' knowledge and skills in lifestyle medicine so that healthcare providers are better equipped to assist patients in adopting and maintaining healthier lifestyle behaviors.

AIMS

To evaluate the impact of five live face-to-face CME programs in lifestyle medicine on providers' barriers, knowledge, confidence, and professional counseling behaviors.

METHODS

200 participants completed researcher-generated surveys before and 90 days after each CME program. Paired t-tests measured significant changes for all outcome variables, and regression analyses assessed predictors of these changes.

RESULTS

Barriers that were targeted during the programs, i.e. lack of knowledge/skills, lack of materials, and perceived poor patient compliance showed highly significant improvement. Participants also reported significant changes in knowledge, confidence, and counseling behaviors in the areas of exercise and stress management. Some improvements occurred in areas that the CME programs did not target as much, i.e. nutrition, smoking, and weight management. The greatest predictor of change was the baseline level of scores. Those participants who could most benefit from change did show the largest improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

Live CME programs can be effective in educating healthcare providers about topics within the rapidly expanding field of lifestyle medicine.