A total of 810 participants were enrolled in the trial (Figure 1). Baseline characteristics were similar in the randomized groups (TABLE 1). The mean (SD) age was 50.0 (8.9) years, 62% were women, and 34% were African Americans. Of the 279 African Americans, 74% were women. The participants were generally overweight and sedentary. Mean (SD) systolic and diastolic BP were 134.9 (9.6) and 84.8 (4.2) mm Hg. Among the 38% of participants with hypertension, mean (SD)
systolic and diastolic BP were 143.9 (7.6) and 87.5 (4.3) mm Hg; corresponding BP measurements in the non-hypertensive participants were 129.5 (5.8) and 83.2 (3.1)mmHg. Six months after randomization, 94% of participants had their BP measured at 1 or more visits; 87% attended all 3 visits.