Recruitment has begun to a major new study to see if there is a better way to identify younger people with early hypertension by looking at whether the way in which their blood pressure is measured can be refined.
Led by BRC Director Professor Bryan Williams, the study was awarded £735,000 from the NIHR/MRC Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme which funds clinical studies to test interventions where proof of concept has already been demonstrated, allowing their progress through early clinical trials and on to larger, later clinical trials.
The study is looking to recruit men aged 18-55, who have previously had a mildly elevated blood pressure reading but who are not currently taking blood pressure lowering treatment. Study volunteers, including UCL/UCLH staff who wish to be involved, will be invited to undergo a cardiovascular health check at the Clinical Research Facility and to have their central pressure measured non-invasively.
The study will test a mechanism to better identify younger people with stage 1 hypertension who might benefit most from early treatment.
Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease and strokes and is a common chronic condition treated in primary care. National guidance recommends treatment where blood pressure exceeds 160/100mmHg (stage II hypertension). Treatment is also recommended for people with lower pressures (stage I hypertension) but only in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease or those at high risk of CVD. There is uncertainty in treating younger people (aged under 40) with stage I hypertension and this group of approximately 1 million people is a key priority for research.
Using simple, non-invasive clinical methods, Professor Williams and his team have shown that blood pressure measured conventionally in the arm does not accurately reflect the pressure near the heart – known as the central aortic systolic pressure (CASP), especially in younger people. The team have shown in previous research that CASP is a better predictor of stress on the heart and may better predict stroke and cardiovascular disease compared to blood pressure measured in the arm.
The study will use this new technology to test whether men with the highest CASP values show early evidence of strain on the heart. High resolution imaging (MRI) will then be used to measure the effects of treatment for one year to see whether lowering CASP improves early heart and artery damage versus no treatment.
For more information contact Amanda Wilson, study nurse, on 07582 509320 or email the study team treatcasp@ucl.ac.uk
