Implementation of non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of hypertension in primary care: a narrative review of effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, barriers, and facilitators

Background The current guidelines for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of hypertension recommend six types of non-pharmacological interventions: alcohol reduction, salt intake reduction, increased potassium intake, physical activity, weight loss, and heart-healthy diets. However, the non-pharmacological interventions are still not widely used in primary care. In this paper, we, therefore, reviewed and summarised the evidence on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, barriers, and facilitators of non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of hypertension in primary care. Methods A thorough literature search was conducted in Embase, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases, to identify the most recent reviews or, in their absence, primary studies on alcohol reduction, salt intake reduction, potassium supplementation, physical activity, weight reduction, heart-healthy diets, and other non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of hypertension in primary care. Results Alcohol reduction is a non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of hypertension in primary care with proven effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability. Interventions for sodium intake reduction, physical activity, and weight reduction are effective but there is insufficient evidence regarding their feasibility and acceptability in primary care settings. Evidence on the effectiveness of potassium intake and heart-healthy diets is limited and inconsistent. There is a lack of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in the treatment of hypertension. The most common barriers to deliver such interventions related to healthcare providers include a lack of time, knowledge, self-confidence, resources, clear guidelines, and financial incentives. The most common barriers related to patients include a lack of motivation and educational resources. Less evidence is available on facilitators of implementing non-pharmacological interventions in primary care. Besides, facilitators differed by different types of interventions. Conclusions Available evidence suggests that more pragmatic, clinically feasible, and logistically simple interventions are required for sodium intake reduction, physical activity, and weight reduction in primary care settings. Future studies should provide further evidence on the effectiveness of weight control, potassium intake, and heart-healthy diets. More research is also needed on cost-effectiveness and facilitators of all types of effective non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of hypertension in primary care.