The Effect of Acupressure on Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertension at Gang Kelor Community Health Center, Bogor City / Akupresur Menurunkan Tekanan Darah pada Pasien Hipertensi di Puskesmas Gang Kelor Kota Bogor

Background: Hypertension remains a significant public health challenge in Indonesia, with a prevalence of 34.11% (approximately 90 million people). West Java Province reports one of the highest national prevalence rates at 39.60%, with 56,411 documented cases in Bogor City alone. Often termed "The Silent Killer," hypertension frequently presents without symptoms yet substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, renal failure, and other complications. Beyond pharmacological interventions, complementary therapies such as acupressure have gained attention as holistic approaches to blood pressure management. However, evidence regarding its specific efficacy beyond educational interventions remains limited. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of acupressure therapy on reducing blood pressure in individuals with hypertension compared to sham acupressure combined with health education. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test control group design was conducted from June to October 2024 at Gang Kelor and Pasirmulya Community Health Centers, Bogor City. A total of 60 participants aged 45–65 years were recruited through purposive sampling from the PROLANIS chronic disease management program. The intervention group (n=30) received hypertension education and acupressure therapy targeting seven specific acupoints (GV 20, GB 20, TE 17, LI 4, LR 2, LR 3, and BL 23), while the control group (n=30) received equivalent education with sham acupressure at non-acupoints. Both groups received five sessions over four weeks. Blood pressure measurements were taken at baseline and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test and paired samples t-test with a significance level of α=0.05. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (intervention: mean difference=12.07 mmHg, p<0.001; control: mean difference=17.53 mmHg, p<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (intervention: mean difference=6.47 mmHg, p=0.001; control: mean difference=6.87 mmHg, p<0.001). However, between-group comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences in systolic (p=0.128) or diastolic (p=0.876) pressure reductions. Baseline characteristics were homogeneous across groups, with no significant differences in age, sex, education, occupation, hypertension duration, or medication adherence.Conclusion: While acupressure combined with education effectively reduced blood pressure, the additional effect of specific acupressure points beyond education and sham acupressure was not statistically significant. Educational interventions appear to be the primary driver of blood pressure reduction in this population. Acupressure may be recommended as a complementary self-care intervention, but further research with more rigorous designs—including randomized controlled trials with adequate blinding and longer follow-up periods—is warranted to isolate acupressure's specific therapeutic effects.

Latar Belakang: Hipertensi masih menjadi tantangan kesehatan masyarakat yang signifikan di Indonesia, dengan prevalensi 34,11% (sekitar 90 juta jiwa). Provinsi Jawa Barat melaporkan salah satu prevalensi nasional tertinggi sebesar 39,60%, dengan 56.411 kasus terkonfirmasi di Kota Bogor. Sering disebut sebagai "The Silent Killer," hipertensi sering muncul tanpa gejala namun secara substansial meningkatkan risiko penyakit kardiovaskular, stroke, gagal ginjal, dan komplikasi lainnya. Di luar intervensi farmakologis, terapi komplementer seperti akupresur telah menarik perhatian sebagai pendekatan holistik untuk manajemen tekanan darah. Namun, bukti mengenai kemanjuran spesifiknya di luar intervensi edukasi masih terbatas. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menyelidiki pengaruh terapi akupresur terhadap penurunan tekanan darah pada individu dengan hipertensi dibandingkan dengan sham akupresur yang dikombinasikan dengan edukasi kesehatan. Metode: Studi kuasi-eksperimental dengan desain pre-test dan post-test kelompok kontrol dilakukan dari bulan Juni hingga Oktober 2024 di Puskesmas Gang Kelor dan Pasirmulya, Kota Bogor. Sebanyak 60 partisipan berusia 45–65 tahun direkrut melalui purposive sampling dari program pengelolaan penyakit kronis PROLANIS. Kelompok intervensi (n=30) menerima edukasi hipertensi dan terapi akupresur yang menargetkan tujuh titik akupresur spesifik (GV 20, GB 20, TE 17, LI 4, LR 2, LR 3, dan BL 23), sedangkan kelompok kontrol (n=30) menerima edukasi setara dengan sham akupresur pada titik non-akupresur. Kedua kelompok menerima lima sesi selama empat minggu. Pengukuran tekanan darah dilakukan pada awal dan pasca-intervensi. Data dianalisis menggunakan independent samples t-test dan paired samples t-test dengan tingkat signifikansi α=0,05. Hasil: Kedua kelompok menunjukkan penurunan signifikan pada tekanan darah sistolik (intervensi: selisih rata-rata=12,07 mmHg, p<0,001; kontrol: selisih rata-rata=17,53 mmHg, p<0,001) dan tekanan darah diastolik (intervensi: selisih rata-rata=6,47 mmHg, p=0,001; kontrol: selisih rata-rata=6,87 mmHg, p<0,001). Namun, perbandingan antar kelompok tidak menunjukkan perbedaan signifikan secara statistik pada penurunan sistolik (p=0,128) maupun diastolik (p=0,876). Karakteristik awal homogen antar kelompok, tanpa perbedaan signifikan dalam hal usia, jenis kelamin, pendidikan, pekerjaan, durasi hipertensi, atau kepatuhan minum obat. Kesimpulan: Meskipun akupresur yang dikombinasikan dengan edukasi secara efektif menurunkan tekanan darah, efek tambahan dari titik-titik akupresur spesifik di luar edukasi dan sham akupresur tidak signifikan secara statistik. Intervensi edukasi tampaknya menjadi pendorong utama penurunan tekanan darah pada populasi ini. Akupresur dapat direkomendasikan sebagai intervensi perawatan mandiri komplementer, namun penelitian lebih lanjut dengan desain yang lebih rigor—termasuk uji coba terkontrol acak dengan blinding yang memadai dan periode tindak lanjut yang lebih panjang—diperlukan untuk mengisolasi efek terapeutik spesifik akupresur.