Sentara partners with Black churches to study disparities in hypertension

On a recent Sunday at Faith Deliverance Christian Center in Norfolk, Va., as the service ended and a final hymn played, parishioners began funneling into the lobby and asking where they could check their blood pressure.

The Rev. Sharon S. Riley was there and wanted to lead the way. She went to a room where two Sentara research assistants were waiting with pamphlets, forms, and blood pressure monitors. Then she sat down, presented one of her arms, and said she was ready.

“I want to be an example for the congregation,” Riley said afterward. “Members of Black churches tend to follow the lead of the pastor.”

Faith Deliverance Christian Center is one of 10 Black churches partnering with Sentara Health to study the best way to control high blood pressure, or hypertension, which disproportionally impacts Black communities. The condition is a major cause of strokes, heart attacks, and early deaths.

Riley said that many people in her congregation suffer from hypertension. She added that she has the condition herself.

“I just hope the study goes well and gives them the information they need to bring all this under control.”

Comparing blood pressure management approaches

Last year the Sentara Health Research Center was awarded a $3.4 million, five-year grant to study high blood pressure in underserved communities across Hampton Roads, the Center’s largest grant to date.

As part of the study, Sentara is collaborating with Yale University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Houston Methodist Hospital. Each health system is partnering with 10 community-based organizations or businesses in underserved communities, including churches, barbershops, and beauty salons. Sentara, Yale, Mass General, and Houston Methodist will then pool their data for analysis.

The Rev. Sharon S. Riley gets her blood pressure checked at Faith Deliverance Christian Center in Norfolk, Va.

In Hampton Roads, Sentara’s researchers plan to recruit a total of 360 participants, or 36 from each church.

Participants will be divided into three tracks.

In the first, they will monitor their blood pressure at home and meet with a primary care physician while receiving frequent text reminders.

In the second, they will also have their blood pressure monitored remotely. A dedicated nurse practitioner will meet with them over six months to review, adjust medications, and make diet suggestions.

In the third, in addition to meeting with a physician and having their blood pressure monitored remotely, they will meet with a community health worker to address social and environmental issues that could be impacting blood pressure.

The study will compare the effectiveness of these three approaches while helping participants manage their own blood pressure.

Margaret Collins gets her blood pressure checked after signing up for Sentara's hypertension study.

The Rev. Geoffrey Guns estimated that 40-50% of his congregation suffers from hypertension. Guns serves as pastor of Norfolk’s Second Calvary Baptist Church, which is one of the study partners.

“If we can develop strategies and programs and ways to reduce the incidence of hypertension in our congregation and in our community, then I am definitely for that,” said Guns.

Building on Sentara’s efforts to improve health equity

John Brush, M.D., Sentara’s chief research officer, said church members have been very welcoming.

“Part of the receptiveness of these communities is because they know they’ve got an unmet need here,” said Dr. Brush.

“I wish I had done this project 31 years ago when I came to this community because I would have been a better doctor all along,” Dr. Brush added. “I would have known much more about the patients and their neighborhoods and their community.”

Sentara’s partnership with local churches and faith-based organizations builds on long-running efforts to reduce health disparities, including the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to underserved communities and the rollout of mobile healthcare clinics.

“We’re excited about the hypertension study and all of the things that Sentara is doing to address health disparities, especially in the African American community,” said the Rev. Dwight Riddick Sr. of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Newport News, which is one of the study partners.

“We’ve seen so many people who have had strokes and who are dealing with other health concerns,” Riddick Sr. said. “You can’t live your very best life if you’re not healthy.”

Iris Lundy, Sentara’s vice president of health equity, has led efforts to forge partnerships with faith-based organizations and other local institutions.

“Sentara cannot go anywhere and do it alone,” Lundy said. “We have to have partners. And we have to have people in the community who believe in what we’re doing. So we do a lot of work with faith-based and other community organizations.”

Dr. John Brush (left), Iris Lundy (center), & Pastor Dwight Riddick Sr. celebrate the start of the hypertension study.

Addressing social and economic drivers of health

High blood pressure is linked to social and economic conditions, including education level, physical environment, access to healthcare, stress, and nutrition.

Researchers have begun on-site screening and enrollment of participants at their churches. All participants commit to monitoring their blood pressure for 18 months, as well as to in-person meetings every six months. The study will connect participants to resources and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Sentara research assistants provide information about the hypertension study and screen participants.

The Rev. Jerry Holmes of Norfolk’s First Baptist Church said members of his congregation are excited to participate. He said hypertension is “something that they struggle with and want to see a remedy for.”

“We’re thankful for the opportunity. And we do look forward to continuing to partner to make healthier communities.”