THE TREATCASP STUDY
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Evaluation of blood pressure treatment stratified according to Central Aortic Systolic Pressure (CASP) in Young Hypertensive Patients -A Cardiovascular Screening Study Followed by a One Year Prospective Randomised Open Blinded Endpoint Clinical Trial and a one year observational follow-up study Comparing Standard Blood Pressure Lowering Therapy with Usual Care on Central Aortic Systolic Pressure and Left Ventricular Mass Index by Cardiac MRI in Young Men with Stage 1 Hypertension. The TREAT CASP study
IRAS ID
111279
Contact name
Bryan Williams
Contact email
Research summary
High blood pressure (BP) is a leading cause of heart disease and strokes and is common chronic condition treated in primary care. National (NICE) guidance recommends treatment where BP exceeds 160/100mmHg (Stage II hypertension). Treatment is also recommended for people with lower pressures (140-159/90mmHg,i.e. stage I hypertension) but only in those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or high risk for CVD. Importantly, there is uncertainty in treating younger people (aged < 40yrs) with stage I hypertension. Indeed NICE has identified this group (~1 million people) as a key priority for research. our study will investigate and test a mechanism to better identify those younger people with stage 1 hypertension who might most benefit from treatment.
using simple , non-invasive Clinical methods, we have shown that BP measured conventionally in the arm does not accurately reflect the pressure near the heart-know as the central aortic systolic pressure, (CASP), especially in younger people. Moreover, we have shown that CASP is a better predictor of stress on the heart and may better predict stroke and CVD compared to BP measured in the arm.
Our study will apply this technology to young men (aged 18-40 years) with stage 1 hypertension. we will identify those men with stage 1 hypertension who have high CASP and distinguish them from men with stage 1 hypertension and low CASP. we hypotension that those with high CASP will have early evidence of strain on the heart and will benefit from treatment. we will test this hypothesis using resolution imaging (MRI) AND BY INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT FOR 1 YEAR TO SEE WHETTHER LOWERING CASP improves early heart and artery damage versus no treatment. Finding from this study may provide evidence for a better way to stratify younger people with early hypertension who would benefit most from treatment.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0563
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion