Fight Hypertension in the Digital Age

The estimated prevalence of hypertension is approximately 29.0% in the United States during 2015-2016. Hypertension remains an important public health challenge in the United States because it increases the risk for other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Strong evidence has indicated that physical activity is associated with reduced risk of hypertension. Lifestyle change programs, including physical activity promotion and dietary modification, have been shown to effectively reduce the cumulative incidence of hypertension for individuals at-risk. However, it is challenging to maintain a high-level program. Recently, the consumer marketplace has been flooded with an array of wearable activity monitors, such Fitbit and Apple Watch, designed to enhance real time self-assessment and activity behavior change. These devices provide potential to serve as more cost effective and appealing intervention means for behavior change applications. Studies have examined the accuracy of the devices but little has been done to examine the monitors' feasibility as a behavior change strategy in and of themselves or as an adjunct to traditional methods (e.g., education and goal setting through a health coach), among people with hypertension. The real-time physical activity monitoring also provides an opportunity to build customized physical activity biofeedback for behavior change. Thus, there is an increasing interest to investigate their application as a behavior change strategy in isolation or as a complement to a more traditional intervention. The current study will recruit participants with hypertension and pre-hypertension. A Fitbit Charge HR will be provided to use over the intervention to all participants. They will be randomly assigned into Fitbit only and Fitbit plus (adding weekly personalized report and health coach consulting) groups for 3-months.