This study evaluates the long-term impact of the Los Angeles Barbershop Blood Pressure Study (LABBPS) on incident stroke/TIA and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Living participants from the LABBPS were contacted via telephone for: (1) interval heath history inquiring about the development of stroke/TIA since the trial end; and (2) Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M); a score ≤34 was considered positive for possible MCI. Rates of stroke/TIA were compared using a Pearson’s Chi-squared test.

Out of 288 living participants, 115 men (50%) with mean (SD) age 62 (9) years, were contacted a median of 6 years after trial end. The distribution of TICS-M scores was similar between groups with 71% and 70% having an abnormal result in the intervention and control groups respectively. Self-reported stroke/TIA occurred in 4 men in the intervention group and 9 in the control group (p=0.13). 

Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke and cognitive impairment, and barbershop-based interventions have proven effective in lowering BP in Black men, a group at disparate risk for neurovascular complications. The preliminary results of our follow-up study do not show a significant difference in possible MCI between treatment arms, though there was a trend towards lower incident stroke/TIA in the intervention arm.