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Stress and CKD Among African Americans

Social Stress, Inflammation, and Chronic Kidney Disease Among African Americans

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03387319
Enrollment
50
Registered
2018-01-02
Start date
2018-04-27
Completion date
2019-04-30
Last updated
2020-05-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Kidney Disease

Keywords

Social stress, Inflammation

Brief summary

The goal of this study is to determine whether experiencing stress from discrimination may increase chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in African Americans. Study participation occurs over the course of 2 days, and participant time burden is expected to be about 4.5 hours, plus a 24-hour period of wearing a blood pressure monitor.

Detailed description

On Day 1, the project coordinator will explain the study to participants and answer any questions he/she may have. Those who agree to participate in the study will provide consent at the clinic and will also be asked to complete a questionnaire on an iPad in a small, private room at the clinic. The participant will complete the questionnaire alone, however, the project coordinator will read questions aloud if the participant chooses. Before leaving on Day 1, participants will fitted with a blood pressure monitor to be worn for the next 24 hours. The clinical intervention portion of the study occurs during the morning of Day 2 (between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM). Participants will be instructed to bring the blood pressure monitor and a list of current medications (or the actual medications) with them. First, participants will provide a urine sample and undergo blood pressure testing. A research nurse will insert a catheter (a small thin tube) into the participant's vein, and allow a 30-minute resting period so that the participant gets used to the catheter, and then take a baseline blood draw. Participants will judge how distressed they feel in that moment using a standard scale and tell the project coordinator his/her rating. Next, participants will be randomized to one of two study arms such that half will recall the racial experience and half will recall the non-racialized stressful event. An audience of two observers of same race will wear white coats and watch as the participants recall the stressful events. The research nurse will draw blood and take blood pressure measurements at multiple time points during both recall experiences. Immediately before and after each recall task, the participant will again judge how distressed he/she is feeling in that moment using the same scale as before. The project coordinator will explain the purpose of the story recall and common ways that individuals may respond to the task (such as feeling anxious after the task). A total of 100 people will take part in this study.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALRacialized Stressful Event Recall

Participants will undergo a moderate psychological stress adapted from the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) where they will be asked to recall a stressful, real-life, race-related event. After instructions are provided, participants will be given two minutes to prepare their statement, and three minutes to deliver their statement. There will be an 'audience' present at each participant's speaking task which will include two observers who are of same race as the participant (African American), to heighten stress responses.

BEHAVIORALNon-Racialized Stressful Event Recall

Participants will undergo a moderate psychological stress adapted from the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) where they will be asked to recall a stressful, real-life, event unrelated to race. After instructions are provided, participants will be given two minutes to prepare their statement, and three minutes to deliver their statement. There will be an 'audience' present at each participant's speaking task which will include two observers who are of same race as the participant (African American), to heighten stress responses.

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
Emory University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Of the 100 participants recruited, 80 will have a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 20 will not. Participants will be randomized such that half will recall the racial experience and half will recall the non-racialized stressful event. Each participant will have an equal chance of being placed in the racialized or non-racialized experience group.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient at Emory University Hospital Midtown * Self-identify as African American or Black * Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 15, or \<90

Exclusion criteria

* Mental disorder that prevents the completion of the Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) and the stressful recall manipulation * Currently on maintenance dialysis * Unable or unwilling to undergo intravenous catheterization

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) ScoreBaseline (Minute 0), Minute 5Level of distress will be measured with the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). Participants rate their distress on a linear scale from 0 to 100, where 0 = No distress; totally relaxed, 50 = Moderate anxiety/distress; uncomfortable, but can continue to function, 100 = Highest anxiety/distress ever felt. The SUDS will be administered at baseline and after the first stress task. The change in SUDS scores is presented here. Scores above zero mean that the participants experienced an increase in distress following the stress task.
Change in Cooper's Racism Recall Scale ScoreBaseline (Minute 0), Minute 5Participants will report their level of stress directly related to reliving the stressful experience using an adapted version of Cooper's Racism Recall Scale. Participants reported their level of distress at the time of the event and currently while thinking about the event, on a linear scale from 0 to 10 where higher values indicate higher distress. Values presented here are the change from baseline and values greater than 0 mean that stress increased from before (baseline) and after the stressful event recall.
Change in Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) LevelBaseline (Minute 0), Minute 90 (after both stress tests and rest periods)Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to acute stress induction and is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Blood will be drawn three times, at 30 minutes after the IV catheter is inserted (prior to the stressful event recall) and after each 45 minute recovery period following the stress tests, in order to compare MCP-1 levels at before and after the study intervention. Increased MCP-1 indicates an increased inflammatory response. MCP-1 levels will be quantitated by the MesoScale system (MSD Rockville, Maryland) according to the protocols supplied by the manufacturer, which uses electrochemiluminescence for high sensitivity with a dynamic range of 0.09-375 pg/mL. Values presented here are the difference between the baseline and post-intervention blood draws and values greater than 0 indicate that there is an increase in inflammatory response post-intervention.
Change in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) LevelBaseline (Minute 0), Minute 90 (after both stress tests and rest periods)Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to acute stress induction and is associated with CKD. Blood will be drawn three times, at 30 minutes after the IV catheter is inserted (prior to the intervention) and after each 45 minute recovery period following the stress tests, in order to compare IL-6 levels at before and after the study intervention. IL-6 is influenced by a variety of factors and increases in IL-6 indicate an increased inflammatory response. IL-6 levels will be quantitated by the MesoScale system (MSD Rockville, Maryland) according to the protocols supplied by the manufacturer, which uses electrochemiluminescence for high sensitivity with a dynamic range of 0.06-488 pg/mL. Values presented here are the difference between the baseline and post-intervention blood draws and values greater than 0 indicate that there is an increase in inflammatory response post-intervention.
Change in Soluble Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) LevelBaseline (Minute 0), Minute 90 (after both stress tests and rest periods)Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to acute stress induction and is associated with CKD. Blood will be drawn three times at 30 minutes after the IV catheter is inserted (prior to the intervention) and after each 45 minute recovery period following the stress tests, in order to compare suPAR levels at before and after the study intervention. Increases in suPAR indicate an increased inflammatory response. suPAR will be measured with the Virogates (CEDARLANE Laboratories, Burlington, NC) suPARnostic® ELISA, according to the protocols supplied by the manufacturer. This assay has a high sensitivity (0.1 ng/mL) giving consistently quantitative results in plasma samples. Values presented here are the difference between the baseline and post-intervention blood draws and values greater than 0 indicate that there is an increase in inflammatory response post-intervention.
Change in Systolic Blood PressurePrior to IV insertion at Minute -30 through Minute 130Blood pressure readings will be taken at baseline and every 5 minutes during the experimental manipulation, except during the recall task when blood pressure will be measured every 1 minute. Mean systolic blood pressure scores for rest, recall task, and recovery will be calculated by averaging the readings taken during each period. Blood pressure reactivity will be a change score, calculated as the mean of the scores during the recall task minus the mean of the scores during rest, designed to represent the change in systolic blood pressure induced by the recall task. Values greater than 0 are the mean increase in systolic blood pressure following the intervention, compared to the baseline time period.
Change in Diastolic Blood PressurePrior to IV insertion at Minute -30 through Minute 130Blood pressure readings will be taken at baseline and every 5 minutes during the experimental manipulation, except during the recall task when blood pressure will be measured every 1 minute. Mean diastolic blood pressure scores for rest, recall task, and recovery will be calculated by averaging the readings taken during each period. Blood pressure reactivity will be a change score, calculated as the mean of the scores during the recall task minus the mean of the scores during rest, designed to represent the change in diastolic blood pressure induced by the recall task. Values greater than 0 are the mean increase in diastolic blood pressure following the intervention, compared to the baseline time period.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Racialized Stressful Event Recall
Participants in this study arm recalled a stressful event related to race.
25
Non-racialized Stressful Event Recall
Participants in this study arm recalled a stressful event unrelated to race.
25
Total50

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicRacialized Stressful Event RecallTotalNon-racialized Stressful Event Recall
Age, Continuous54.92 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.66
52.52 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.35
50.12 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.57
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
25 Participants50 Participants25 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
25 Participants50 Participants25 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
16 Participants30 Participants14 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants20 Participants11 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 250 / 25
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 250 / 25
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 250 / 25

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Cooper's Racism Recall Scale Score

Participants will report their level of stress directly related to reliving the stressful experience using an adapted version of Cooper's Racism Recall Scale. Participants reported their level of distress at the time of the event and currently while thinking about the event, on a linear scale from 0 to 10 where higher values indicate higher distress. Values presented here are the change from baseline and values greater than 0 mean that stress increased from before (baseline) and after the stressful event recall.

Time frame: Baseline (Minute 0), Minute 5

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Cooper's Racism Recall Scale Score6.24 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.57
Non-racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Cooper's Racism Recall Scale Score5.48 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.57
Primary

Change in Diastolic Blood Pressure

Blood pressure readings will be taken at baseline and every 5 minutes during the experimental manipulation, except during the recall task when blood pressure will be measured every 1 minute. Mean diastolic blood pressure scores for rest, recall task, and recovery will be calculated by averaging the readings taken during each period. Blood pressure reactivity will be a change score, calculated as the mean of the scores during the recall task minus the mean of the scores during rest, designed to represent the change in diastolic blood pressure induced by the recall task. Values greater than 0 are the mean increase in diastolic blood pressure following the intervention, compared to the baseline time period.

Time frame: Prior to IV insertion at Minute -30 through Minute 130

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Diastolic Blood Pressure5.52 millimeters of mercury (mmHg)Standard Deviation 6.15
Non-racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Diastolic Blood Pressure7.59 millimeters of mercury (mmHg)Standard Deviation 8.37
Primary

Change in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Level

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to acute stress induction and is associated with CKD. Blood will be drawn three times, at 30 minutes after the IV catheter is inserted (prior to the intervention) and after each 45 minute recovery period following the stress tests, in order to compare IL-6 levels at before and after the study intervention. IL-6 is influenced by a variety of factors and increases in IL-6 indicate an increased inflammatory response. IL-6 levels will be quantitated by the MesoScale system (MSD Rockville, Maryland) according to the protocols supplied by the manufacturer, which uses electrochemiluminescence for high sensitivity with a dynamic range of 0.06-488 pg/mL. Values presented here are the difference between the baseline and post-intervention blood draws and values greater than 0 indicate that there is an increase in inflammatory response post-intervention.

Time frame: Baseline (Minute 0), Minute 90 (after both stress tests and rest periods)

Population: Lab values are missing for 15 participants due to lab error.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Level2.23 pg/mLStandard Deviation 1.02
Non-racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Level2.11 pg/mLStandard Deviation 1.29
Primary

Change in Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) Level

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to acute stress induction and is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Blood will be drawn three times, at 30 minutes after the IV catheter is inserted (prior to the stressful event recall) and after each 45 minute recovery period following the stress tests, in order to compare MCP-1 levels at before and after the study intervention. Increased MCP-1 indicates an increased inflammatory response. MCP-1 levels will be quantitated by the MesoScale system (MSD Rockville, Maryland) according to the protocols supplied by the manufacturer, which uses electrochemiluminescence for high sensitivity with a dynamic range of 0.09-375 pg/mL. Values presented here are the difference between the baseline and post-intervention blood draws and values greater than 0 indicate that there is an increase in inflammatory response post-intervention.

Time frame: Baseline (Minute 0), Minute 90 (after both stress tests and rest periods)

Population: Lab values are missing for 15 participants due to lab error.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) Level193.12 pg/mLStandard Deviation 92.8
Non-racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) Level217.31 pg/mLStandard Deviation 110.47
Primary

Change in Soluble Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) Level

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an inflammatory marker that is sensitive to acute stress induction and is associated with CKD. Blood will be drawn three times at 30 minutes after the IV catheter is inserted (prior to the intervention) and after each 45 minute recovery period following the stress tests, in order to compare suPAR levels at before and after the study intervention. Increases in suPAR indicate an increased inflammatory response. suPAR will be measured with the Virogates (CEDARLANE Laboratories, Burlington, NC) suPARnostic® ELISA, according to the protocols supplied by the manufacturer. This assay has a high sensitivity (0.1 ng/mL) giving consistently quantitative results in plasma samples. Values presented here are the difference between the baseline and post-intervention blood draws and values greater than 0 indicate that there is an increase in inflammatory response post-intervention.

Time frame: Baseline (Minute 0), Minute 90 (after both stress tests and rest periods)

Population: Lab values are missing for 15 participants due to lab error.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Soluble Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) Level4.18 ng/mLStandard Deviation 1.66
Non-racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Soluble Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) Level4.50 ng/mLStandard Deviation 1.5
Primary

Change in Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) Score

Level of distress will be measured with the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). Participants rate their distress on a linear scale from 0 to 100, where 0 = No distress; totally relaxed, 50 = Moderate anxiety/distress; uncomfortable, but can continue to function, 100 = Highest anxiety/distress ever felt. The SUDS will be administered at baseline and after the first stress task. The change in SUDS scores is presented here. Scores above zero mean that the participants experienced an increase in distress following the stress task.

Time frame: Baseline (Minute 0), Minute 5

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) Score2.92 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.74
Non-racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) Score3.12 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.07
Primary

Change in Systolic Blood Pressure

Blood pressure readings will be taken at baseline and every 5 minutes during the experimental manipulation, except during the recall task when blood pressure will be measured every 1 minute. Mean systolic blood pressure scores for rest, recall task, and recovery will be calculated by averaging the readings taken during each period. Blood pressure reactivity will be a change score, calculated as the mean of the scores during the recall task minus the mean of the scores during rest, designed to represent the change in systolic blood pressure induced by the recall task. Values greater than 0 are the mean increase in systolic blood pressure following the intervention, compared to the baseline time period.

Time frame: Prior to IV insertion at Minute -30 through Minute 130

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Systolic Blood Pressure11.79 millimeters of mercury (mmHg)Standard Deviation 12.76
Non-racialized Stressful Event RecallChange in Systolic Blood Pressure15.72 millimeters of mercury (mmHg)Standard Deviation 19.2

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026