Hypertension, Pre-Hypertension
Conditions
Keywords
Isometric Handgrip Training, Elderly, Pre-Hypertension, Hypertension
Brief summary
New data suggests that isometric handgrip training (IHT) might become a novel tool in the treatment of hypertension. The main purpose of this research project is to evaluate the effects of home-based IHT on ambulatory blood pressure in older adults with pre-hypertension and hypertension. Eighty-four older adults with pre-hypertension and hypertension will be randomly distributed to one of three groups: home-based IHT, home-based aerobic exercise training (AET), or attention-control group (CON). Each intervention will have a total duration of 8 weeks. At baseline and after completing the intervention, patients will undergo the following evaluations: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial function, damage and repair, arterial stiffness, inflammatory biomarkers, autonomic function, physical activity levels, dietary intake and quality of life. A qualitative analysis will also be applied to enhance the understanding of the efficacy of this intervention from the patient's perspective.
Interventions
OTHERAerobic Exercise Training
The 8-week exercise program will include three sessions of aerobic exercise per week
The 8-week exercise program will include three sessions of isometric handgrip training per week
Sponsors
Aveiro University
Hospital Infante D. Pedro, Centro Hospitalar Do Baixo Vouga
Hospital Pedro Hispano, ULS Matosinhos
Porto University
University of Connecticut
Unidade de Saúde Familiar de Santa Joana
Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development
Unidade de Saúde Familiar Serzedelo
University Institute of Maia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
\-
Exclusion criteria
* Secondary Hypertension * Target Organ Damage * Coronary Artery Disease * Heart Failure * Any Previous Cardiovascular Event * Peripheral Artery Disease * Renal Failure * Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease * Insulin Dependent Diabetes * Change of Antihypertensive Medication in the Past 4 Weeks Before Inclusion in the Study * Smokers * Those Participating in Regular Physical Activity
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 24h ambulatory blood pressure | Change from baseline to 2 months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Endothelial function | Change from baseline to 2 months | Assessed by brachial artery dilation to endothelial-dependent stimuli using an ultrasound, according to the recommendations |
| Inflamamtion | Change from baseline to 2 months | Plasma levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers including C-reactive protein, Interleukin-10, total nitric oxide and nitrate/nitrite, endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase |
| Endothelial cell repair/damage | Change from baseline to 2 months | Assessed by the circulating number of endothelial progenitor cells and circulating endothelial cells in a peripheral blood by flow cytometry. |
| Health-related quality of life | Change from baseline to 2 months | Assessed by the Short-Form 36 |
| Arterial Stiffness | Change from baseline to 2 months | Assessed by application tonometry using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity as the gold-standard measure |
| Weekly physical activity sleep quality | Change from baseline to 2 months | Measured in seven consecutive days by accelerometry |
| Intervention quality | two weeks after the intervention | Assessed by focus group interviews using semi-structured guide with the participants of the experimental groups |
| Sleep quality | Change from baseline to 2 months | Measured in seven consecutive days by accelerometry |
| Aerobic fitness | Change from baseline to 2 months | Assessed by Chester Step Test |
Countries
Portugal, United States
Outcome results
None listed