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Article

Factors Associated with Confidence in Following Provider Recommendations for Lifestyle Changes to Manage High Blood Pressure Among Older U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

1
College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
2
College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
3
College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
4
Disability, Aging, and Technology Cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Ageing Longev. 2025, 5(3), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/jal5030031
Submission received: 7 July 2025 / Revised: 24 August 2025 / Accepted: 27 August 2025 / Published: 2 September 2025

Abstract

Hypertension is a major chronic condition affecting older adults in the United States. The condition imposes clinical and economic burdens. Self-efficacy, or confidence in managing health, is crucial for effective self-management of hypertension. This study explored the relationships between socio-demographics, health status, and confidence in following provider recommendations for controlling hypertension among Medicare beneficiaries. The 2021 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey was analyzed, including responses from 5838 beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with reported hypertension. A three-level categorical dependent variable ((1) very confident/confident, (2) somewhat confident, and (3) not confident (reference group)) based on provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for hypertension control was created. A survey-weighted multinomial logit model examined associations between socio-demographics and self-reported health status and the dependent variable. Among respondents, 70.8%, 21.4%, and 7.8%, respectively, were very confident/confident, somewhat confident, and not confident in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes to control hypertension. Beneficiaries with obesity, fair/poor general health, and limitations in basic activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living were less likely to report being very confident/confident. The findings of this cross-sectional study highlighted the potential need for targeted support (e.g., tailored health coaching, peer mentoring) of lifestyle changes for at-risk older adults to manage hypertension.

1. Introduction

Hypertension affects approximately 74.1% of individuals in the United States (U.S.) aged 60 years or older. Hypertension imposes significant health and economic burdens on individuals and the healthcare system [1]. In the US, only 45% of adults over 65 years of age with a diagnosis of hypertension are able to maintain their blood pressure within recommended levels [2]. Uncontrolled hypertension contributes to long-term health consequences including myocardial infarction, stroke, and nephrosclerosis leading to chronic kidney disease [3].
Implementation of healthy lifestyle changes is critical in the prevention of hypertension and the initial management of the condition. In addition to pharmacologic therapy, healthy lifestyle interventions are an important adjunct in reaching blood pressure goals [4]. Achievement of evidence-supported blood pressure goals by sustained adoption of healthy cardiometabolic lifestyle changes has the potential to delay prescription of antihypertensive medications and support dose reductions or deprescription of these agents [5].
Socio-demographic factors and health status may impact patient adherence with provider-recommended hypertension-focused lifestyle changes [6,7,8]. Research shows that hypertension self-management practices may be influenced by age, gender, marital status, education level, and monthly income [6]. Females experience greater success in implementing hypertension-related, lifestyle-focused recommendations [7]. Additionally, higher-functioning older adults with chronic conditions have demonstrated greater self-management efficacy and a higher likelihood of engaging healthy lifestyle behaviors including condition monitoring, goal setting, medication adherence, communicating with healthcare providers, nutritious eating, exercise, and social engagement [8].
Bandura’s social cognitive theory suggests that self-efficacy is a key determinant of engagement in self-care behaviors [9]. There is evidence to support the association between self-efficacy and self-management behaviors (e.g., lifestyle changes) in hypertension [9]. Confidence in one’s ability to succeed is a key component of self-efficacy and can act as a proxy to it [10]. The literature shows that individuals with higher confidence in their ability to control their blood pressure are more inclined to sustain their engagement in self-management routines through lifestyle interventions [9]. However, information about factors (e.g., socio-demographics and health conditions) associated with older US adults’ confidence in their abilities to follow provider recommendations regarding lifestyle changes to control blood pressure is limited.
Thus, our study aims were to investigate the associations between confidence in following provider recommendations of lifestyle changes for blood pressure control among Medicare beneficiaries with hypertension and socio-demographic factors (e.g., race/ethnicity, education level, income level) and health status (e.g., BMI, chronic conditions, functional limitations). Understanding these factors can inform potential interventions or programs that may improve confidence and thereby self-efficacy in hypertension management among at-risk beneficiaries.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Data

Data for this cross-sectional analysis were obtained from the 2021 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Public Use File (MCBS PUF), a deidentified publicly available secondary dataset derived from a nationally representative survey of community-dwelling beneficiaries [11]. The MCBS is an ongoing, versatile survey that reflects the population of individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those under 65 with certain disabling conditions who qualify for Medicare [11]. Based on the 2021 Data User’s Guide: Survey PUF, the overall response rate for the ever-enrolled cross-sectional sample represented by the MCBS 2021 Survey File was 50.8% [11]. The primary focus of the MCBS is economic and beneficiary healthcare-related themes, such as healthcare utilization, access barriers to healthcare, healthcare expenditures, and factors influencing healthcare utilization [11]. This study was designated as not human subject research by the university’s Institutional Review Board.
The study population was Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with self-reported hypertension (n = 5838; weighted n = 28.6 million). Respondents who did not have hypertension, did not answer any questions related to the independent or dependent variables, or had missing data were excluded from this analysis (Figure S1—A consort diagram).

2.2. Dependent Variable

The following survey question was analyzed for this study, “Doctors and other health professionals often recommend changing your habits or lifestyle, such as changing your diet, or getting regular exercise in order to control blood pressure. How confident are you that [you/(SP)] can follow these recommendations? Would you say that you are very confident, confident, somewhat confident, or not at all confident?” [11]. From this self-reported variable, the 3-level categorical dependent variable was recoded and created: (1) very confident or confident, (2) somewhat confident, and (3) not confident (reference group) in following provider recommendations for blood pressure control. This variable served as a proxy for the self-efficacy measure.

2.3. Independent Variables

Socio-demographic factors included in the current study were age (65 to 74 years, ≥75 years), sex (male, female), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Other), marital status (married, widowed, divorced/separated, and never married), education (less than high school, high school or vocational school, and more than high school), income level (<USD 25,000, ≥USD 25,000), residing area (metro, non-metro), and living status (not alone, alone). Health-related characteristics included functional limitations (no limitations, only instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) limited, 1–2 activities of daily living (ADLs) limited, and ≥3 ADLs limited), BMI (underweight/normal, overweight, obese), and self-reported general health compared to others of the same age (excellent/very good, good, fair/poor). The number of chronic conditions (none to one condition, two to three conditions, four to five conditions, six or more conditions) was also included with attention to the following health conditions: diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, existing heart condition, stroke, arthritis, depression, COPD, and cancer (non-skin). The independent variables included in this study were chosen based upon previous studies [6,7,8].

2.4. Analysis

Bivariate analyses were conducted to understand the characteristics of the study beneficiaries. A multinomial logit model was conducted to examine the associations between confidence in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes to control blood pressure and the socio-demographic factors and health status characteristics. All analyses utilized survey weights from the dataset to account for the complex survey design and derive estimates representative of the national Medicare population. Data analyses were conducted using SAS Enterprise Guide 8.3, with a significance level set at 0.05.

3. Results

Among study beneficiaries, 70.8% reported being very confident or confident in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control. Menawhile, 21.4% of beneficiaries reported being somewhat confident, and another 7.8% reported being not confident (Table 1). Beneficiaries who were married and had higher education had a higher prevalence of being very confident or confident in following recommended lifestyle changes. Medicare beneficiaries with functional limitations, poor or fair general health, lower income, and a higher number of chronic conditions reported a higher prevalence of poor confidence in following provider recommendations for blood pressure control (Table 1).
The adjusted results from the multinomial logit model are summarized in Table 2. Beneficiaries with limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) were less likely to report being very confident/confident (OR = 0.47; 95% CI [0.32–0.70]; p < 0.001) or somewhat confident (OR = 0.57; 95% CI [0.37–0.87]; p = 0.010) in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control compared to those without functional limitations. Similarly, beneficiaries with limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) were less likely to report being very confident/confident (1–2 ADLs: OR = 0.27; 95% CI [0.19–0.37]; p < 0.001; ≥3 ADLs: OR = 0.14; 95% CI [0.09–0.23]; p < 0.001) or somewhat confident (1–2 ADLs: OR = 0.43; 95% CI [0.31–0.60]; p < 0.001; ≥3 ADLs: OR = 0.28; 95% CI [0.18–0.44]; p < 0.001) in following provider recommendations for blood pressure control compared to those without functional limitations. Additionally, beneficiaries with obesity were less likely to report being very confident/confident in adhering to lifestyle changes recommended by their provider (OR = 0.57; 95% CI [0.42–0.77]; p < 0.001) than those who were underweight/a normal weight. Beneficiaries who reported their general health being good (OR = 0.62; 95% CI [0.48–0.82]; p < 0.001) or fair/poor (OR = 0.29; 95% CI [0.20–0.41]; p < 0.001) were less likely to report being very confident/confident in following provider recommendations for blood pressure control than those with excellent/very good general health.

4. Discussion

This study examined socio-demographic and health factors associated with confidence in following provider lifestyle recommendations among Medicare beneficiaries with hypertension. We found that approximately 8% of beneficiaries (representing ~2.2 million beneficiaries) reported not being confident in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes to achieve blood pressure goals. Our findings showed that the presence of functional limitations, a lower subjective health status, and obesity in this sample of older adults were associated with a decreased likelihood of being confident in following provider lifestyle change recommendations for blood pressure control.
This study revealed that IADL or ADL limitations were associated with decreased confidence in following provider recommendations for hypertension-related lifestyle changes. The literature reports that ADL and IADL deficits negatively impact older adults’ sense of control and undermine their ability to cope with daily life demands, including effective self-management of chronic health conditions [12]. Consequently, ADL limitations in older adults may impede independent participation in healthy lifestyle behaviors such as shopping for nourishing foods, preparing meals, and engaging in physical activity.
The combination of hypertension and difficulties in performing daily activities has been associated with heightened risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease, and other cardiac-related incidents [13]. Thus, specialized support to guide healthcare providers in tailoring self-management education for older adults with hypertension and ADL deficits has the potential to build self-confidence and better promote participation in healthy lifestyle interventions such as physical activity. The annual Medicare wellness exam provides a uniform opportunity to proactively screen for functional deficits, identify opportunities to improve health behaviors, and provide self-management recommendations to all beneficiaries affected by hypertension [14]. These assessments highlight specific areas for individualized interventions, aimed at maintaining independence in the more complex daily tasks that characterize chronic disease self-management. By identifying potential functional limitations earlier, clinicians can potentially better align recommendations for exercise, diet, or other lifestyle changes to a patient’s actual capabilities and needs and provide referral to support services. Further research trialing specific interventions focused on hypertension self-management interventions in older adults with ADL deficits will help elucidate the efficacy of these interventions. One report showed that therapeutic exercise enhanced ADL functions in older individuals in long-term care facilities [15]. Comparable interventions should be designed and studied in at-risk community-dwelling older adults.
Our results also demonstrated that beneficiaries with lower subjective health status were less likely to report being confident in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control. Prior research reported that individuals with a higher reported general health status employ positive reframing strategies, which in turn may enhance confidence [16]. Another study found that higher self-rated health was associated with greater participation in regular exercise [17], and suggested that a positive outlook on health can bolster confidence in managing health-related tasks and challenges. As such, understanding individuals’ perceptions of their general health could help providers to focus on the coaching to increase their confidence in managing chronic conditions. Such interventions may lead to better health outcomes and more effective management of chronic conditions, such as hypertension, through lifestyle changes.
Our study also indicated that beneficiaries with obesity were less likely to report being confident in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control compared to those who were a normal weight or underweight. The result was not surprising as individuals with obesity might encounter mobility-related issues, health-related activity restrictions, and weight-related stigma [18]. The literature reports that weight loss programs are some of the most effective interventions to control obesity-related hypertension and to reduce associated health risks [19]; our findings emphasize the need for future research to explore weight-loss strategies in older adults with hypertension that promote weight-associated lifestyle interventions.
Despite the availability of affordable and well-tolerated antihypertensive medications, the rate of controlled hypertension in the U.S. has declined over the past decade [20]. This fact indicates a need for increased efforts to help patients manage their blood pressure effectively. Empowerment-focused approaches are essential for building trust and motivation among individuals with hypertension, enabling patients to take a more active role in managing their health [21]. For example, community healthcare practitioners could play a crucial role in a multifaceted approach to help older individuals manage hypertension, providing personalized health coaching to improve blood pressure control by encouraging the necessary lifestyle changes [22]. Further, assistive technologies and digital solutions can be implemented for purposes such as monitoring, sustaining daily life, and therapeutic interventions that support patients with ADL/IADL limitations and their caretakers [23]. This can range from interventions not requiring supervision such as digitalized exercise coaching [24] to smart homes that integrate machine learning and artificial intelligence to help patients perform everyday tasks [25]. Thus, these tools may help beneficiaries feel empowered and capable of implementing lifestyle changes to manage their hypertension and improve health outcomes.

Limitations and Strengths

Due to the cross-sectional design of this study, it was not possible to determine the causality of the study findings. This research only established associations of variables with confidence in self-managing hypertension-related lifestyle interventions. Because this study is a secondary data analysis, researchers were only able to use variables defined in the survey; the reliability and validity of the questionnaire used to measure the dependent variable relied on the MCBS PUF. Therefore, another key limitation was that the researchers only used reported confidence levels as a proxy to measure self-efficacy. Different or more specific instruments for self-efficacy assessment may produce different findings. Further, due to the sample size, researchers were only able to use a three-level categorization of the dependent variable; this may have biased the findings. Data collection through surveys may have also been affected by participants’ memory inaccuracies leading to recall bias. Another limitation could be a product of response bias such as social desirability bias influencing participants in the MCBS to select answers they deemed as more acceptable. Other sources of confounding bias such as community or social support for lifestyle changes were not assessed also served as a limitation of this study. Estimates may be less robust for independent variables with four categories and/or small sample sizes. Some of the independent variables may act as mediators or moderators. Further research is needed to clarify these relationships.
A major strength of this study was its reliance on a large, nationally representative sample, which allowed for a comprehensive examination of the issue at the population level. Given the high prevalence of hypertension and its significant health and economic burden, especially in the older adult population, the study provided evidence for potentially the development of targeted interventions and informed decision making.

5. Conclusions

The findings highlighted the differences in confidence in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control among beneficiaries associated with obesity, reported fair/poor health status, and limitations in IADL and ADL. Targeted support (e.g., tailored health coaching, digital support for patients with ADL/IADL limitations, and peer mentoring) for at-risk beneficiaries is essential. By addressing the specific needs of these vulnerable groups, healthcare providers and stakeholders can potentially help beneficiaries improve their blood pressure control, thereby reducing the associated health risks and improving the overall quality of life for these individuals.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/jal5030031/s1, Figure S1: The consort diagram for the study population.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, J.N. and B.P.N.; methodology, B.P.N.; software, B.P.N.; validation, B.P.N.; formal analysis, J.N. and B.P.N.; investigation, J.N. and B.P.N.; resources, B.P.N.; data curation, J.N. and B.P.N.; writing—original draft preparation, J.N.; writing—review and editing, B.P.N., J.B.L. and C.P.; supervision, B.P.N.; project administration, J.N. and B.P.N. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The University of Central Florida Institutional Review Board determined that this is not research involving human subjects.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The original data presented in the study are openly available via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Servies at https://data.cms.gov/medicare-current-beneficiary-survey-mcbs/medicare-current-beneficiary-survey-survey-file (accessed on 7 July 2025).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Table 1. Characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with hypertension by confidence in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control.
Table 1. Characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with hypertension by confidence in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control.
VariableTotalVery Confident or ConfidentSomewhat ConfidentNot Confidentp-Value
Unweighted n583841261229483
Weighted n28.6 million20.3 million6.1 million2.2 million
Overall (weighted %)100.070.821.47.8
Socio-demographic characteristics
Age group 0.012
 65–74 years56.456.841.851.2
 ≥75 years43.643.258.248.8
Sex 0.156
 Female53.752.856.354.9
 Male46.347.243.745.1
Race/ethnicity 0.210
 Non-Hispanic White73.973.675.372.9
 Non-Hispanic Black11.211.511.38.7
 Hispanic8.18.26.811.0
 Other6.86.86.67.5
Marital status 0.003
 Married54.456.151.447.6
 Widowed22.421.423.329.7
 Divorced/separated17.116.219.717.2
 Never married6.16.35.75.6
Education <0.001
 Less than high school11.811.111.917.8
 High school or vocational30.728.535.636.8
 More than high school57.660.452.545.4
Income <0.001
 <USD 25,00027.125.030.039.1
 ≥USD 25,00072.975.070.060.9
Residing area 0.003
 Non-metro area16.615.719.018.5
 Metro83.484.381.081.5
Living status 0.546
 Not alone69.570.068.567.8
 Alone30.530.031.532.2
Health-related characteristics
Number of chronic conditions <0.001
 0–125.828.818.916.2
 2–344.345.245.134.7
 4–521.719.724.431.6
 ≥68.36.311.517.5
Functional limitations <0.001
 No limitations60.067.348.725.0
 Only IADLs limited13.012.614.113.6
 1–2 ADLs limited18.514.825.333.5
 ≥3 ADLs limited8.55.411.827.9
BMI <0.001
 Underweight/Normal26.229.117.224.9
 Overweight35.537.731.826.1
 Obese38.233.250.948.9
General Health <0.001
 Excellent/Very Good47.555.031.523.0
 Good33.531.640.831.1
 Fair/Poor19.013.427.746.0
IADLs = instrumental activities of daily living; ADLs = activities of daily living; some variables may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Table 2. Survey-weighted multinomial logit regression results of factors associated with confidence in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control.
Table 2. Survey-weighted multinomial logit regression results of factors associated with confidence in following provider recommendations for lifestyle changes for blood pressure control.
VariableVery Confident or Confident in Blood Pressure Control vs. Not Confident Somewhat Confident in Blood Pressure Control vs. Not Confident
OR (95% CI)p-ValueOR (95% CI)p-Value
Age group
 65–74 years1.18 (0.91–1.52)0.2051.22 (0.93–1.60)0.153
 ≥75 years (Ref)
Sex
 Female (Ref)
 Male0.82 (0.63–1.07)0.1440.77 (0.60–1.00)0.052
Race/ethnicity
 Non-Hispanic White (Ref)
 Non-Hispanic Black1.69 (1.01–2.83)0.0451.30 (0.76–2.22)0.334
 Hispanic1.12 (0.73–1.72)0.5940.77 (0.47–1.26)0.293
 Other1.11 (0.63–1.97)0.7191.01 (0.54–1.88)0.976
Marital status
 Married (Ref)
 Widowed0.74 (0.52–1.07)0.1100.84 (0.55–1.27)0.397
 Divorced/separated0.93 (0.61–1.41)0.7141.15 (0.74–1.79)0.540
 Never married1.10 (0.54–2.23)0.7891.01 (0.491–2.09)0.973
Education
 Less than high school0.84 (0.58–1.23)0.3710.86 (0.57–1.29)0.458
 High school or vocational0.75 (0.58–0.96)0.0260.95 (0.72–1.25)0.703
 More than high school (Ref)
Income
 <USD 25,000 (Ref)
 ≥USD 25,0000.99 (0.73–1.33)0.9271.12 (0.81–1.54)0.508
Residing area
 Metro1.12 (0.82–1.53)0.4701.01 (0.69–1.46)0.980
 Non-metro (Ref)
Living status
 Not alone (Ref)
 Alone1.05 (0.76–1.46)0.7501.02 (0.70–1.48)0.919
Number of chronic conditions
 0–1 (Ref)
 2–31.12 (0.77–1.64)0.5511.35 (0.89–2.05)0.161
 4–50.92 (0.63–1.36)0.6801.07 (0.72–1.60)0.731
 ≥60.89 (0.57–1.37)0.5771.17 (0.75–1.83)0.480
Functional limitations
 No limitations (Ref)
 Only IADLs limited0.47 (0.32–0.70)<0.0010.57 (0.37–0.87)0.010
 1–2 ADLs limited0.27 (0.19–0.37)<0.0010.43 (0.31–0.60)<0.001
 ≥3 ADLs limited0.14 (0.09–0.23)<0.0010.28 (0.18–0.44)<0.001
BMI
 Underweight/normal (Ref)
 Overweight1.06 (0.79–1.44)0.6901.58 (1.07–2.32)0.022
 Obese0.57 (0.42–0.77)<0.0011.35 (0.94–1.93)0.101
General health
 Excellent/very good (Ref)
 Good0.62 (0.48–0.82)<0.0011.19 (0.87–1.62)0.268
 Fair/poor0.29 (0.20–0.41)<0.0010.77 (0.52–1.15)0.198
Ref = reference group; IADLs = instrumental activities of daily living; ADLs = activities of daily living.
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MDPI and ACS Style

Nguyen, J.; LaManna, J.B.; Park, C.; Ng, B.P. Factors Associated with Confidence in Following Provider Recommendations for Lifestyle Changes to Manage High Blood Pressure Among Older U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. J. Ageing Longev. 2025, 5, 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/jal5030031

AMA Style

Nguyen J, LaManna JB, Park C, Ng BP. Factors Associated with Confidence in Following Provider Recommendations for Lifestyle Changes to Manage High Blood Pressure Among Older U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Ageing and Longevity. 2025; 5(3):31. https://doi.org/10.3390/jal5030031

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nguyen, Jordan, Jacqueline B. LaManna, Chanhyun Park, and Boon Peng Ng. 2025. "Factors Associated with Confidence in Following Provider Recommendations for Lifestyle Changes to Manage High Blood Pressure Among Older U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study" Journal of Ageing and Longevity 5, no. 3: 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/jal5030031

APA Style

Nguyen, J., LaManna, J. B., Park, C., & Ng, B. P. (2025). Factors Associated with Confidence in Following Provider Recommendations for Lifestyle Changes to Manage High Blood Pressure Among Older U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Ageing and Longevity, 5(3), 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/jal5030031

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