SMaRT BP CKD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SMaRT BP CKD Self Management and Realisation of Target Blood Pressure in CKD.
IRAS ID
321439
Contact name
Bethany Lucas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long term disease where the kidneys do not function properly. People with CKD are at risk of developing end stage kidney disease (ESKD) where the kidneys do not filter the toxins from the blood sufficiently and kidney replacement therapy such as dialysis or transplant are required. People with CKD are at much higher risk of heart disease and stroke and often have high blood pressure (BP). There is evidence that lowering BP for people with CKD reduces the risk of heart disease, strokes and progression of kidney disease to ESKD. We know from existing evidence that BP in CKD is poorly controlled and suggested BP targets are not met. New international guidelines suggest a lower target systolic BP (<120mmHg) than previously recommended for most patients with CKD.
In general practice researchers have found that patients monitoring their own BP at home and following a pre-agreed plan to change and/or increase their blood pressure medications themselves significantly reduced BP over 12 months. These studies mostly excluded participants with CKD for whom blood pressure control can be more complicated and who often need more tablets to achieve the recommended blood pressure.
The aim of this study is primarily to establish if a self-management approach to BP control is feasible in this complex group. Participants will be randomly allocated to usual care or to measure their own blood pressure at home and with support from the study team and a pre-agreed medication plan increase or change their own BP medications to try and reach a lower BP target. Participants will be recruited from a single centre’s hospital kidney clinics and will be followed up for 12 months.
For patients with CKD this could lead to the integration of a more patient-centred approach to BP management into their care. For researchers this would form the basis for funding applications for a definitive randomised trial to examine BP reduction for people with CKD using a self-management approach.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0076
Date of REC Opinion
4 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion