Hypertension Circulatory System
Conditions
Interventions
This study will be a cross-sectional study of four groups: normotensive Black African and Black Caribbean women, normotensive White European women, hypertensive Black African and Black Caribbean women
Sponsors
British Heart Foundation
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Female
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: All participants: 1. Female 2. 18-75 years of age 3. Non-obese (BMI 140/90 mmHg and daytime ambulatory BP > 135/85 mmHg or diagnosis of hypertension 2. No medications except treatment for hypertension and/or oral contraceptives
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: All participants: 1. Body mass index =35 kg/m2 2. Major illness e.g. cancer, inflammatory disease (including vasculitis) or receiving palliative care 3. Medical history of respiratory, cardiovascular (excluding hypertension), cerebrovascular, metabolic, renal or endocrine disorders (i.e. severe cardiac electrical conduction abnormalities, chronic heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome) 4. Inherited disorders e.g., sickle cell anaemia 5. Pregnancy/breastfeeding women 6. Taking nitrate, steroid, anti-coagulant or immunosuppressant medication or medication as part of a clinical trial 7. Diagnosed cardiovascular (including arrhythmia), respiratory (including asthma), renal or ophthalmic disease 8. Congenital or acquired neurological conditions (including dementia), language disorders, repeated or chronic pain conditions (excluding menstrual pain and minor sporadic headaches) 9. Diabetes or HbA1c >6.5% 10. Symptoms of febrile illness within two weeks of participation 11. Excessive alcohol consumption (exceeding 28 units/week) or intravenous drug use 12. Needle phobia 13. History of panic attacks 14. Inability to understand instructions given in English 15. Current smoker 16. Pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator, cerebral metallic clips or other implanted metallic devices/structures 17. Unable to tolerate scanner or history of claustrophobia 18. Learning disability or significant hearing and/or visual impairment, which may affect participants ability to communicate from within the MRI scanner 19. Inability to understand English Normotensive: 1. Women with a history of hypertension, including hypertension in pregnancy Hypertensive participants: 2. Secondary causes of hypertension
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Cerebral pulsatility index measured from MRI at rest and during Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. White matter hyperintensities measured using MRI at rest 2. Blood-brain barrier integrity measured using MRI at rest 3. Grey matter perfusion measured using MRI at rest 4. Cardiovascular hemodynamics measured continuously during a 10-minute resting period and during the PASAT: 4.1. Heart rate measured continuously via ECG 4.2. Beat-to-beat blood pressure measured via finger photoplethysmography 4.3. Continuous femoral blood flow measured via Doppler ultrasound 5. Stress hormones (cortisol and catecholamines) during mental stress measured from venous blood samples taken at rest and during the PASAT 6. Systemic arterial stiffness measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity at rest 7. Cerebral arterial stiffness measured from MRI at rest | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom, Wales
Contacts
Public ContactLydia Simpson
Outcome results
None listed