Home BP Monitoring for High Blood Pressure
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores a new method to identify high blood pressure in African American teens. Instead of the usual doctor visits, participants will use a home blood pressure machine to check their readings twice a day for three days. Researchers will compare these results with those from a 24-hour monitoring device, considered the gold standard for accuracy. Teens who are African American or partly African American and have not been previously diagnosed with high blood pressure are ideal candidates for this study. The trial also aims to gather feedback from participants and their parents on their experiences with both methods. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could improve blood pressure monitoring for teens.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but if you are already prescribed blood pressure medication or regularly use stimulants or other medications that raise blood pressure, you would not be eligible to participate.
What prior data suggests that this method is safe for teens?
Research shows that checking blood pressure at home can be a safe and effective method. This approach allows individuals to measure blood pressure in a comfortable setting, such as their own home, which can help avoid the stress or anxiety some people experience at the doctor's office, often leading to higher readings.
Studies have found 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to be well-tolerated and reliable for tracking blood pressure throughout the day and night. This method is often used to manage high blood pressure because it provides a complete picture of how blood pressure changes over time.
Both methods are widely used and considered safe. They offer a better understanding of blood pressure levels and help avoid the limitations of measuring blood pressure only at the doctor's office.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores new methods for managing high blood pressure at home. The trial compares traditional home blood pressure machines, where participants measure their blood pressure twice daily, with an experimental 24-hour blood pressure monitoring device that is worn continuously. This new 24-hour monitoring approach could provide more comprehensive data by capturing fluctuations in blood pressure throughout the entire day, offering insights that occasional measurements might miss. By understanding these patterns better, the trial aims to refine hypertension management and improve patient outcomes.
What evidence suggests that this trial's methods could be effective for identifying high blood pressure in teens?
Research has shown that checking blood pressure over 24 hours with a portable monitor, which participants in this trial may use, provides very accurate results. This method is the best choice for measuring blood pressure because it offers detailed and reliable information. Studies have found that it diagnoses high blood pressure more effectively than taking readings only at the doctor's office. Alternatively, another group in this trial will use home blood pressure monitoring, a convenient option, especially for teenagers. In Europe, this method has successfully identified high blood pressure outside of clinics. Although not as extensively studied as the 24-hour method, home monitoring can still provide useful information, particularly when regular clinic visits are difficult.12367
Who Is on the Research Team?
Rao Goutham, MD
Principal Investigator
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for African American teens without a prior hypertension diagnosis, no history of organ transplant, not on stimulants or blood pressure meds, and no congenital heart disease. It aims to find better ways to diagnose high blood pressure in this group.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Participants will measure blood pressure twice daily for three days in a row using a home blood pressure machine
24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Participants will wear a 24-hour blood pressure machine for continuous monitoring
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after blood pressure monitoring
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Home BP Monitoring
Home BP Monitoring is already approved in European Union, United States for the following indications:
- Diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents
- Under investigation for diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents, particularly in high-risk populations
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Lead Sponsor
Goutham Rao, MD
Lead Sponsor