Reduction Of Dietary Salt Intake To Control Systolic Blood Pressure In Hypertensive Older Patients (REPRESS)
Hypertension

About this trial
This is an interventional other trial for Hypertension focused on measuring randomized controlled trial, older patients, polypharmacy, diet, salt intake, educational intervention, blood pressure
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Community-dwelling patients aged ≥60 years; Prescribed ≥3 drugs; A) Systolic blood pressure ≥130 and ≤160 mmHg for patients prescribed stable antihypertensive therapy (at least 1 drug (ATC code: C02*, C03*, C07*, C08*, C09*)); B) Systolic blood pressure ≥140 and ≤160 mmHg for those patients not prescribed any antihypertensive drug; Capable of feeding independently; Own a smartphone; Frequently consuming home-cooked meals (≥4 days during a week and ≥3 during the weekend per month); Giving signed informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Living in a nursing home or having applied for nursing home admission; Being prescribed (adding, switching or changing dosage) an antihypertensive drug in the three months before enrollment; Undergoing renal replacement therapy with dialysis or having renal impairment with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <25 mL/min/1.73 m2 (assessed by CKD-EPI formula) [30] within previous six months or at the screening assessment; Following a low-sodium dietary regimen; Being unable or refusing to sign informed consent.
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Intervention
Control
Patients randomized to intervention arm during the 12 weeks after randomization will receive on their smartphone and/or via e-mail, information materials such as videos, images and recipes for reminders specifically designed to make patients aware on the importance of reducing dietary salt intake and suggestions on how to do it. The educational interventions will be delivered once a week. The main objective of the educational interventions is to spread knowledge about the health risks of excessive salt intake, the actual amount of salt in food, measures to reduce salt intake (e.g. use spices, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, check food labels, gradually reduce the salt in favorite recipes, avoid putting salt and salty sauces on the table, etc.). The interventions, conceived with nutritionists, will be delivered once a week to the participants and to their caregivers and/or the closest family member, involved in the food shopping and the preparation of meals.
Patients randomized to Control Group will only receive short tips on controlling blood pressure.