Continuous follow-up intervention of a low-salt diet to control blood pressure among older people with hypertension in rural Indonesia

Problem considered: In older people, hypertension is a leading cause of death and results in serious complications that reduce the quality of life. A high-salt diet is one contributing factor to the increased incidence of hypertension in older people, and the implementation of appropriate interventions is required to address this issue. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of providing education on a low-salt diet, along with continuous follow-up, on blood pressure control in older people with hypertension. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental pre- and posttest with a control group design and involved 148 older people with hypertension who were randomly allocated. The intervention group received a one-time low-salt diet education and 2-month follow-up. In contrast, the control group received only standard education from the community health center with no follow-up. Results: In the control group, blood pressure showed no significant changes and tended to remain stagnant. The control group did not show significant changes in any variables, including systolic blood pressure (p = 0.747) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.208). In the intervention group, blood pressure decreased and remained stable during the first and second months. The statistical tests for the intervention group showed significant changes in both systolic blood pressure (p = 0.000) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Providing education on a low-salt diet along with continuous follow-up significantly influences the control of blood pressure in older people with hypertension.