Possible beneficial effects of health counseling, given less frequently than ordinary, on blood pressure.

This study was initiated to investigate the effects of health counseling under Total Health Promotion Plan (THP). The study populations consisted of 1,655 working men who had an initial THP-based counseling and a follow-up 3 yr later (the THP group; the counseling was given on a once-three year basis), and 1,655 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls (working men who had no health counseling; the control group). In the THP group, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the prevalence of excessive alcohol drinking were decreased, and nutritional score was improved, although BMI was increased. In contrast, SBP, BMI and the ratio of excessive drinkers were all increased in the controls. Multiple regression analysis of the THP group showed that the reduction in SBP was positively associated with the increase in maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) and physical activity scores, as well as the decrease in BMI. In sub-group analyses of the THP group, VO(2max) and physical activity scores were increased, and BMI did not change in the sub-group with marked BP decrease. In the sub-group with marked BP increase, however, BMI was increased, and VO(2max) was decreased. The ratio of excessive drinkers was reduced only in the sub-group with marked BP decrease. The obese-hypertensive subjects in the THP group showed decreases in BMI and BP, and increases in VO(2max). Thus, these results appeared to suggest that health counseling given even at a low frequency of once in three years prevented the age-associated increase in BP through improvement of physical endurance, decrease in alcohol intake and reduction in body weight.