Naturopathic Treatment of Hypertension
Author Information
Author(s): Bradley Ryan, Kozura Eva, Kaltunas Jennifer, Oberg Erica B., Probstfield Jeffery, Fitzpatrick Annette L.
Primary Institution: Bastyr University
Hypothesis
Does naturopathic care lead to significant changes in blood pressure for patients with hypertension?
Conclusion
Naturopathic care appears to significantly reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with stage 2 hypertension achieved mean reductions of −26 mmHg in systolic BP and −11 mmHg in diastolic BP.
- The proportion of patients achieving blood pressure control increased from 14% to 44%.
- Patients attended an average of 8.7 visits over a 13.8-month care period.
Takeaway
This study shows that people with high blood pressure can lower it by visiting naturopathic doctors who give advice on diet and exercise.
Methodology
A retrospective, observational study analyzing medical charts from an outpatient naturopathic clinic.
Potential Biases
The population studied may be self-selecting and highly motivated, which could skew results.
Limitations
The study is observational and lacks a control group, making it difficult to establish causation.
Participant Demographics
{"mean_age":61,"gender_distribution":{"male":35,"female":50},"ethnicity_distribution":{"white":45,"non_white":12,"unknown":28}}
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.17, 0.71
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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