A community health worker intervention to improve blood pressure among Filipino Americans with hypertension: A randomized controlled trial

Behavioral interventions utilizing community health workers (CHWs) have demonstrated effectiveness in improving hypertension disparities in ethnic minority populations in the United States, but few have focused on Asian Americans. We assessed the efficacy of a CHW intervention to improve hypertension management among Filipino Americans with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) in New York City (NYC) from 2011 to 2013. A total of 240 Filipino American individuals (112 in the treatment group and 128 in the control group) with uncontrolled hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg) were recruited from community-based settings in NYC. Using a community-based participatory research approach, treatment participants received 4 educational workshops and 4 one-on-one visits with CHWs over a 4-month period, while control group participants received 1 educational workshop. Main outcome measures included BP control, changes in SBP and DBP, and changes in appointment keeping at 8-months. At 8-months, BP was controlled among a significantly greater percentage of treatment group participants (83.3%) compared to the control group (42.7%). The adjusted odds of controlled BP for the treatment group was 3.2 times the odds of the control group (P < 0.001). Both groups showed decreases in SBP and DBP, with greater decreases among treatment participants. Significant between-group differences were also demonstrated in adjusted analyses (P < 0.001). Individuals in the treatment group showed significant changes in appointment keeping. In conclusion, a community-based intervention delivered by CHWs can help improve BP and related factors among Filipino Americans with hypertension in NYC.