Strategies for improving blood pressure control in Africa
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN69440037 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN69440037 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 01 |
- Submission date
- 24/05/2016
- Registration date
- 31/05/2016
- Last edited
- 12/05/2017
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Circulatory System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the leading cause of disability and death in the world. It is a particular problem in Africa, where genetic causes of salt and water retention make hypertension more common, and make blood pressure control more difficult. In many cases, the exact cause of hypertension is not known, which can make finding the most appropriate treatment more difficult. By testing the blood for specific chemicals - renin (a kidney enzyme) and aldosterone (a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidney) - it is possible to identify which treatments would be most effective based on the actual cause of the hypertension. The aim of this study is to look at the effectiveness of individualized therapy based on the physiological cause of the hypertension as determined from the plasma renin and aldosterone testing.
Who can participate?
Adult patients with resistant hypertension (blood pressure above 160/90 despite three medications) who are attending one of the three hypertension clinics participating in the study.
What does the study involve?
Patients are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group continue to receive usual care according to the consensus guidelines of the country in which the clinic is located. Those in the second group take part in a new strategy of care based on finding the underlying physiological process that is causing the high blood pressure. This is done by taking a sample of blood and measuring levels of renin, and aldosterone. The results of these tests are then analysed and used to choose the most appropriate therapy. Participants in both groups are followed up after one year to find out if their blood pressure control has improved.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
It is anticipated that the patients who take part in the new strategy will benefit from better blood pressure control. There are no notable risks involved with taking part in this study.
Where is the study run from?
1. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (Nigeria)
2. Groote Schuur Hospital (South Africa)
3. Nakuru County Referral Hospital (Kenya)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2013 to June 2016
Who is funding the study?
Grand Challenges Canada (Canada)
Who is the main contact?
Dr. J. David Spence
dspence@robarts.ca
Contact information
Scientific
Robarts Research Institute
Western University
1400 Western Road
London
N6G 2V4
Canada
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-7478-1098 |
|---|
Study information
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Prevention |
| Participant information sheet | No participant information sheet available |
| Scientific title | Physiologically individualized therapy for resistant hypertension in Africa |
| Study objectives | Individualized therapy for resistant hypertension will improve blood pressure control compared to usual therapy. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Human Research Ethics Board of Western University, 20/08/2013 (renewal date: 10/11/2014), ref: 103876 2. University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences Human Research Ethics Committee, 04/04/2013, ref: 169/2013 3. Ethical Committee Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, 20/06/2013, ref: LTH/OGB/Ec/2013/003 4. Egerton University Research Ethics Board, 22/07/2013, ref: EUIDVRE/009 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Resistant hypertension |
| Intervention | On the first study visit, participants have blood samples taken for measurement of plasma renin and aldosterone using kits provided by Diagnostics Biochem Canada Inc, and a sample of blood to be sent for DNA extraction and Sanger sequencing to identify genetic factors that may cause salt and water retention. Patients are randomized using random numbers generated in SPSS, to either the usual care group (in which the plasma renin and aldosterone results are blinded to the physician and the patient) or the physiologically individualized treatment group, in which the plasma renin and aldosterone levels are used to choose the most appropriate therapy. The algorithm used to interpret the plasma renin and aldosterone levels and choose appropriate therapy was described in 2012 (Spence JD. Lessons from Africa: the importance of measuring plasma renin and aldosterone in resistant hypertension. Can J Cardiol. 2012 May;28(3):254-7. PMID: 22289470). Participants in both groups are followed up for one year in the hypertension clinic, with visits scheduled according to the usual routine in each clinic. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Pharmaceutical study type(s) | |
| Phase | Phase III |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | |
| Primary outcome measure | Blood pressure control, defined as a systolic pressure <140 mmHg and Diastolic Control is defined as a diastolic pressure <90, is measured using an automated blood pressure device at baseline and one year. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the candidate genes are measured using sanger sequencing at baseline in the intervention group only. |
| Overall study start date | 03/05/2014 |
| Completion date | 22/05/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 120 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Blood pressure greater than 160 systolic or 90 diastolic 2.Currently on three medications including a diuretic 3. Attending the hypertension clinic at the study site 4. Aged 18 and over |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Renal failure 2. Congestive heart failure 3. Patients with a serious health condition that would limit life expectancy to less than one year |
| Date of first enrolment | 03/07/2014 |
| Date of final enrolment | 03/07/2015 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- South Africa
Study participating centres
Department of Medicine
General area
Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road
Ogbomoso
202061
Nigeria
Cape Town
7925
South Africa
Nakuru Town
20100
Kenya
Sponsor information
Charity
Sandra Rotman Centre
MaRS Centre, South Tower
101 College Street, Suite 406
Toronto
M5G 1L7
Canada
| Phone | +1 416 673 8122 |
|---|---|
| winnie.luong@grandchallenges.ca | |
| Website | http://www.grandchallenges.ca/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/02snbhr24 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- Grands Défis Canada, GCC
- Location
- Canada
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/12/2016 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | An abstract has been presented at a meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, April 18 - 19, 2016. Planned submission of a paper on the main results in June 2016, and a paper on the genetic sequencing results in July 2016 |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/09/2017 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
10/05/2017: Publication reference added.
