Describing and Treating Severe Hypertension (DASHER)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the barriers to successful treatment of newly diagnosed severe hypertension.
IRAS ID
174372
Contact name
Andrew Sharp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 2 days
Research summary
High blood pressure (hypertension) affects over 1 billion people and, due to its effects on blood vessels, contributes to causes of death worldwide more than any other factor. The risk can be lowered in these patients by reducing blood pressure to target levels set by experts. However, despite the potential benefit to their health, less than half of people treated reach their blood pressure targets. Previous research has shown that the number of patients achieving these goals can be increased by clinics following a clear treatment plan. It has also been shown that early reduction of blood pressure in these patients improves long-term health. We aim to demonstrate that these findings can be combined using an innovative treatment plan to reduce blood pressure quickly in newly-diagnosed patients with severe hypertension to prove that this is safe and effective.
Using this new treatment plan, the study will explore if it is possible to predict whether blood pressure treatment will work before medications are started. Patients will have both non-invasive and simple blood tests to determine their blood vessel and heart structure and function at their first visit. It is hoped that this will help tailor blood pressure treatment to individual patients’ needs in the future.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0077
Date of REC Opinion
17 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion