Neurocognition, Lifestyle Modification, and Treatment Resistant Hypertension

Duke University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Treatment-Resistant Hypertension

Treatments: Behavioral: Structured center-based lifestyle intervention; Behavioral: Standard education and physician advice

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03001427

Pro00055703_1

Details and patient eligibility

About

This application proposes to extend an ongoing NHLBI clinical trial (NCT02342808) examining the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention combining the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet with caloric restriction and aerobic exercise to lower and control BP in individuals with RH. In the parent trial, participants with RH will be randomized to either: (1) a 4-month adjunctive lifestyle intervention designed to lower BP through exercise and diet (C-LIFE), or; (2) a standardized education and physician advice (SEPA) control condition.

The current protocol will collect additional assessments of neurocognition (executive function, processing speed, and memory), endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation), and cerebrovascular reserve (a measure of prefrontal cortex tissue oxygenation) in 120 participants at baseline, following completion of the 4-month intervention, and again after one year, in order to examine neurocognitive improvements and their potential mediators.

Enrollment: 140 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 35+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Documented resistant hypertension (RH). In the absence of a specific RH diagnosis, individuals being treated for two or more weeks with 3 antihypertensive medications of different classes, including a diuretic if tolerated, with clinic SBP ≥ 130 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 80 mm Hg, will be eligible. Individuals being treated with 4 or more antihypertensive medications, including a diuretic if tolerated, with SBP ≥ 120 or DBP ≥ 80 mm Hg will also be eligible.
• Adherent to prescribed medications
• Overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2)
• Sedentary
• Willing to be randomized to one of the 2 treatment groups and able to fully participate in intervention
• Informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Secondary HTN, non-adherence to anti-HTN medications
• Severe CKD (eGFR <40 ml/min/1.73m2)
• Severe ischemic heart disease (CCS Class 3 or 4 angina or evidence of ischemia at <85% heart rate reserve on treadmill testing)
• Severe heart failure (NYHA association Class 3 or 4), high grade arrhythmias, severe valvular heart disease
• Severe asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease
• Diabetes requiring insulin
• Musculoskeletal or neurologic problems that would preclude participation in aerobic exercise training
• Major psychiatric disorder, a history of drug abuse, alcohol consumption >14 drinks/week
• Life-limiting comorbid medical condition such as cancer
• Prior gastric bypass surgery
• Currently pregnant
• Cognitively impaired

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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140 participants in 2 patient groups

Structured center-based lifestyle intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The Structured center-based Lifestyle Intervention (C-LIFE) will include individualized plans for the DASH diet, weight management, and aerobic exercise.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Structured center-based lifestyle intervention

Standard education and physician advice

Experimental group

Description:

The Medical Management with Standardized Education and Physician Advice (SEPA) will consist of encouragement to achieve an ideal body weight and engage in exercise as part of routine counseling in primary care, but no special program will be delivered to enhance the participants' ability to comply with these recommendations.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard education and physician advice