title: Efficacy of a church-based lifestyle intervention programme to control high normal blood pressure and/or high normal blood glucose in church members: a randomized controlled trial in Pretoria, South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In persons 15 years and above in South Africa the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes has been estimated at 9.1% and 9.6%, respectively, and the prevalence of systolic prehypertension and hypertension, 38.2% and 24.6%, respectively. Elevated blood glucose and elevated blood pressure are prototype of preventable chronic cardiovascular disease risk factors.Lifestyle interventions have been shown to control high normal blood pressure and/or high normal blood glucose.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study proposes to evaluate the efficacy of a community (church)-based lifestyle intervention programme to control high normal blood pressure and/or high normal blood glucose in church members in a randomized controlled trial in Gauteng, South Africa. The objectives are to: (1) measure non-communicable diseases profile, including hypertension and diabetes, health behaviours, weight management and psychological distress of church members; (2) measure the reduction of blood glucose and blood pressure levels after the intervention; (3) prevent the development of impaired glucose tolerance; (4) compare health behaviours, weight management and psychological distress, blood glucose and blood pressure levels between intervention and control groups, and within group during 6, 12, 24 and 36 months during and post intervention. The study will use a group-randomized design, recruiting 300 church members from 12 churches. Churches will be randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifestyle interventions may prevent from the development of high blood pressure and/or diabetes. The findings will impact public health and will enable the health ministry to formulate policy related to lifestyle interventions to control blood pressure and glucose.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PACTR201105000297151.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Development & Innovation, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, Turfloop, South Africa. supaprom@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Supa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pengpid
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peltzer
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skaal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011236:Prediabetic State; D058246:Prehypertension; D012067:Religion; D013019:South Africa; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose