Improving Hypertension Control in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Duke University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Hypertension; Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treatments: Behavioral: Blood pressure intervention arm

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05760898

PRO00112307

3U54MD012530-05S2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a autoimmune disease associated with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and premature death,. Traditional CAD risk factors like hypertension (HTN) are both very common and poorly controlled among RA patients. Patients with RA face significant challenges in controlling HTN. The goal of this project is to identify barriers to HTN care in patients with RA to reduce CAD events.

Enrollment: 25 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years old or older
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• History of rheumatoid arthritis
• Receive both primary care and rheumatology care from Duke Health System

Exclusion criteria

• Age less than 18 years old
• Healthy volunteers without rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension
• Do not receive both primary care and rheumatology care from Duke Health System
• Cognitive impairment with lack the capacity to consent to study participation
• Pregnant women
• Prisoners

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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25 participants in 1 patient group

Blood pressure intervention arm

Experimental group

Description:

The investigators will recruit 25 RA patients with HTN for the study. Participants will be provided with a home blood pressure monitor, teaching from nursing staff regarding the correct use of the monitor, and a guide to help interpret normal and elevated blood pressure values. Participants will be instructed to obtain and record blood pressure values at least three times per week over the course of 3 months. Every 2 weeks, these results will be sent to the study team, and participants will complete a brief survey regarding other factors that may influence blood pressure control, including RA disease activity (RAPID3 score), pain, current use of acute RA therapies, anti-hypertensive medication use, anti-hypertensive medication adherence, and current perceived barriers to HTN self-management.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Blood pressure intervention arm