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Controlling Blood Pressure in Treatment Resistant Hypertension: A Pilot Study (TRH)

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) logo

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Hypertension

Treatments

Other: Referral Hypertension specialist
Drug: Renin treatment-guided Therapeutics
Drug: Aldosterone Antagonist

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02167464
R34HL105880

Details and patient eligibility

About

Comparative Effectiveness Research using an intent-to-treat approach in 8 clinics in South Carolina. The investigators will assess 4 efficacious approaches to controlling treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH): Aldosterone Antagonist, Referral to Hypertension Specialist, Renin Treatment-Guided Therapeutics, and combination of Hypertension Specialist and Renin Treatment-Guided Therapeutics. Patients with TRH are evaluated with the BpTRU device for an accurate and representative blood pressure measure on two occasions before entry into the study. Qualitative data from focus group discussions with practice staff, and patient surveys and interviews will provide contextual data to help explain why some interventions are more acceptable and successful than others.

Full description

This is Comparative Effectiveness Research conducted in the real world of under-resourced primary care clinics in South Carolina. Four arms of the study are identified with two clinics/arm enrolling and following patients with TRH. The goal is to compare rates of BP control according to American Heart Association guidelines among the 4 arms, along with clinic and patient satisfaction with each approach.

Our hypothesis is that defining pathophysiological mechanisms (e.g. renin treatment-guided therapeutics) with or without referral to a hypertension specialist will improve blood pressure control over adding an aldosterone antagonist in eligible patients or just referring patients to a hypertension specialist.

This mixed-methods design captures medical and qualitative data to not only describe the outcome of blood pressure control, but to assess the impact of the four interventions on staff and patient satisfaction. Key patient data includes demographics, visits, blood pressure values, medications and laboratory data. Focus group discussions with practice staff before and after the study will document early attitudes toward each arm, any practice changes needed to implement each arm and any burdens of the intervention on the practice. Patient surveys and interviews will assess their satisfaction with each intervention along with their experiences in participating in this research project.

Treatment Resistant Hypertension is a common medical condition, and relatively ineffective treatment regimens are a significant contributing factor. The long-term goal is to establish practice and effective approaches for controlling blood pressure and reducing clinical complications and related health disparities.

Enrollment

70 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 80 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of Treatment Resistant Hypertension (TRH)
  • On three or more hypertensive medications at therapeutic dose
  • BpTRU measurement on two occasions of >135/85 without diabetes or chronic kidney disease or BP >125/75 if diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease.
  • Mean of >10 BP readings of >135/85 mm mercury for those with no diabetes or chronic kidney disease
  • Mean of >10 home BP readings of >125/75 mm mercury for those with diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease.

Exclusion criteria

  • Less than 18 years of age
  • Refuses or incompetent to provide consent
  • BP controlled to goal in or outside the clinic
  • Symptomatic or significant orthostatic hypotension (<20/10 on standing)
  • Life-threatening or severe illness
  • Currently on protocol
  • Myocardial Infarction or stroke in the past 6 months
  • Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate <50 ml/1.7/min.

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Single Blind

70 participants in 4 patient groups

Aldosterone Antagonist
Active Comparator group
Description:
Prescribe an aldosterone antagonist such as Spironolactone 12.5-25 mg daily as a starting dose with a maximum recommended dose of 50 mg daily.
Treatment:
Drug: Aldosterone Antagonist
Referral Hypertension specialist
Active Comparator group
Description:
Referral to a hypertension specialist
Treatment:
Other: Referral Hypertension specialist
Renin treatment-guided therapeutics
Active Comparator group
Description:
Renin treatment-guided therapeutics. A treatment algorithm is provided to guide treatment based upon renin levels.
Treatment:
Drug: Renin treatment-guided Therapeutics
Renin-guided therapeutics and referral
Active Comparator group
Description:
Renin treatment-guided therapeutics and referral to hypertension specialist. Treatment based upon algorithm for treatment related to renin level in addition to referral to a hypertension specialist.
Treatment:
Drug: Renin treatment-guided Therapeutics
Other: Referral Hypertension specialist

Trial contacts and locations

8

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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