Physical Activity, Air Pollution, and High Blood Pressure

University of British Columbia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Essential Hypertension

Treatments: Behavioral: Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05092672

H21-01487

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators are investigating the effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on the cardiovascular and pulmonary response to exercise in patients with hypertension using a real world randomized, crossover study design. Participants will be exposed to 2 conditions: a low TRAP environment and a high TRAP environment. Each exposure will consist of 30 min of moderate-intensity exercise. Cardiovascular and pulmonary health outcomes will be measured before, during, and up to 24 hours following exposures. A minimum washout period of 1 week will be used to minimize carryover effects.

Enrollment: 21 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age between 40-70 years of age
2. Previously diagnosed with elevated blood pressure or hypertension by a physician

Exclusion criteria

1. Current or ex-smokers (abstinent for less than one year)
2. Lives with an individual who currently smokes cigarettes, e-cigarettes (i.e., vaping), or cannabis
3. Hormone replacement therapy use
4. Currently on beta-blocker or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy
5. Currently using over the counter drugs or supplements that may alter cardiovascular measures (as per the principal investigator's discretion)
6. Prior diagnosis of any other existing cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases and/or conditions (other than hypertension)
7. Musculoskeletal injury or lower limb limitation preventing safe engagement in moderate-intensity exercise

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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21 participants in 2 patient groups

High traffic-related air pollution first

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will exercise in an environment with high levels of traffic-related air pollution first. Afterwards, participants will complete the same exercise in an environment with low levels of traffic-related air pollution.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise

Low traffic-related air pollution

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will exercise in an environment with low levels of traffic-related air pollution first. Afterwards, participants will complete the same exercise in an environment with high levels of traffic-related air pollution.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise