Effects of Self-management on Blood Pressure in Thai Older Adults with Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among older adults and a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In Thailand, the aging population is rapidly increasing, and the burden of uncontrolled hypertension among older adults presents a significant public health challenge. Effective and sustainable strategies for hypertension management are therefore essential. Self-management interventions, grounded in behavioral and theoretical frameworks, have been widely promoted as a patient-centered approach to chronic disease control.This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of self-management theory based interventions in reducing blood pressure among older adults with hypertension in Thailand.

A comprehensive search of both international and Thai databases—including PubMed,Embase, Scopus, and the Thai Journal Citation Index (TCI) was conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 2018 and December 2023. The review specifically included studies employing randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental designs involving self-management interventions targeting older adults aged 60 years and above diagnosed with hypertension. The selection process followed PRISMA guidelines. After rigorous screening and quality appraisal using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies, only quasi-experimental studies were included as randomized controlled trials were absent from our search results. The results showed that five studies met the inclusion criteria. All included studies were conducted in Thailand, targeted older adults and implemented interventions grounded in self-management theoretical frameworks. These interventions commonly incorporated components such as health education, self-monitoring, behavior modification, goal setting, and reinforcement strategies, with the overarching aim of improving hypertension control and enhancing patient engagement. The five included studies encompassed a total of 379 older adults, with 188 participants assigned to various self-management intervention groups and 189 to control groups receiving usual care. Meta-analyses were conducted separately for systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure outcomes using a random-effects model.

The results demonstrated statistically significant reductions in both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the intervention groups compared to the control groups.For diastolic blood pressure, the pooled mean difference was -9.34 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI]: -10.95 to -7.72), indicating a substantial improvement in blood pressure control associated with the interventions. The effect was statistically significant (z = -11.32, p < 0.001).Similarly, for systolic blood pressure, the meta-analysis showed a mean difference of -16.79 mmHg (95% CI: -25.21 to -8.38), also favoring the intervention groups. The effect was statistically significant (z = -3.91, p < 0.001).Overall, the findings from this review highlight the effectiveness of self-management theory based interventions in significantly lowering both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among older adults in Thailand. These interventions not only contribute to improved clinical outcomes but also promote patient autonomy and long-term adherence to treatment regimens—key components in managing a chronic condition such as hypertension. Given the growing emphasis on person-centered care in aging populations, these results support the integration of self-management programs into routine hypertension care, particularly in community and primary care settings. Despite these positive outcomes, some limitations should be acknowledged. Notably,the number of eligible studies was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Keywords: Hypertension, Meta-analysis, Older adults, Systematic review, Thailand