Family-Based Intervention Reduces Blood Pressure by 10 mm Hg in Rural China Study

A family-based health intervention program in rural China resulted in significant blood pressure reductions among participants, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025. The Healthy Family Program, conducted across 80 villages in rural China, achieved an average 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure among participating adults compared to those who did not participate in the program.

The six-month intervention involved multiple strategies including regular blood pressure monitoring, the use of low-sodium salt substitutes, and educational sessions on healthy lifestyle habits. Approximately 30-50 families participated from each village, with residents aged 40-80 years eligible for the study. Half of the villages were randomly assigned to receive the family-focused intervention while the other half served as control groups.

Professor Xin Du, M.D., Ph.D., co-principal investigator of the study and director of the Center of Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, emphasized the program's comprehensive approach. "Most blood pressure programs focus on treatment for people with high blood pressure, whereas our study included the whole family regardless of their blood pressure levels," Du explained.

The program implementation involved training local health workers as family health instructors, who then trained one person from each household to become a "family leader" responsible for implementing the Healthy Family Program within their family. Each participating family received a free blood pressure monitoring device and access to a smartphone app that provided automatic feedback on blood pressure readings and recommendations on when to seek medical care.

Participants also received free low-sodium, potassium-enriched salt substitutes to replace regular cooking salt. Family members without diagnosed high blood pressure participated in the program alongside those with elevated readings, with instructions to monitor blood pressure according to their initial measurements. Those with normal blood pressure (below 120/80 mm Hg) were instructed to measure again in three months and were encouraged to follow diets prepared with low-sodium salt, participate in group exercises, and monitor their weight monthly.

The program's sustainability was tested when educational sessions and free salt substitutes were discontinued after six months, while digital tools and monitoring devices remained available. Remarkably, six months after the program ended, the average systolic blood pressure for people in participating villages remained 3.7 mm Hg lower compared to non-participants, suggesting maintenance of healthy habits developed during the intervention.

"In many cultures, families share the responsibility of caring for one another and promoting a healthy lifestyle," Du noted. "In our study, family leaders played a critical role in implementing the program by supporting a healthy diet high in vegetables, fruits and legumes, and low in sodium, fat and sugar. This is crucial for managing blood pressure, as well as for preventing other chronic health conditions, such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes."

The study involved 8,001 adults across the 80 villages, with specific protocols for blood pressure monitoring based on initial readings. Participants with readings of 160/100 mm Hg or higher were required to measure the following day, while those with readings of 140-159/90-99 mm Hg were instructed to measure within one week. The program excluded adult family members with terminal illnesses or pregnancy plans.

Du highlighted the potential global implications of this approach: "This approach could transform how we prevent heart disease in communities worldwide. By involving entire families and communities rather than treating individuals, we can likely reduce everyone's risk of heart attack and stroke, especially in areas where health care resources are limited."

Study limitations include its location in rural China, requiring additional research to determine applicability to other populations and health care systems. The six-month intervention period was insufficient to measure actual reductions in heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease. Some participants moved to cities for work during the study, potentially affecting results, and the program required local government support for recruitment and coordination.

The research abstract is available through the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 Online Program Planner at https://professional.heart.org/en/meetings/scientific-sessions. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, as abstracts presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed.