The FAITh TrIAl: BAselIne ChArACTerIsTICs oF A ChurCh-BAsed TrIAl To Improve Blood pressure ConTrol In BlACks

Objective: To describe the baseline char­acteristics of participants in the Faith-based Approaches in the Treatment of Hyperten­sion (FAITH) Trial. Design: FAITH evaluates the effectiveness of a faith-based lifestyle intervention vs health education control on blood pressure (BP) reduction among hypertensive Black adults. Setting, Participants, and Main Measures: Participants included 373 members of 32 Black churches in New York City. Baseline data collected included participant demo­graphic characteristics, clinical measures (eg, blood pressure), behaviors (eg, diet, physical activity), and psychosocial factors (eg, self-efficacy, depressive symptoms). Results: Participants had a mean age of 63.4 ± 11.9 years and 76% were female. About half completed at least some college (53%), 66% had an income ≥$20,000, and 42.2% were retired or on disability. Partici­pants had a mean systolic and diastolic BP of 152.1 ± 16.8 mm Hg and 86.2 ± 12.2 mm Hg, respectively, and a mean BMI of 32 kg/m2. Hypertension (HTN) medications were taken by 95% of participants, but most (79.1%) reported non-adherence to their regimen. Participants reported consuming 3.4 ± 2.6 servings of fruits and vegetables and received 30.9% of their energy from fat. About one-third (35.9%) reported a low activity level. Conclusion: Participants in the FAITH trial exhibited several adverse clinical and behavioral characteristics at baseline. Future analyses will evaluate the effective­ness of the faith-based lifestyle intervention on changes in BP and lifestyle behaviors among hypertensive Black adults. Ethn Dis . 2015;25[3]:337-344.