Trial results for an intervention targeting uncontrolled hypertension in emergency department patients were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-06-18. The study, involving 574 participants, reported that an educational and empowerment intervention led to a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction of 14.0 mmHg at 6 months post-intervention, compared to 9.2 mmHg in the usual care group.
Background
Hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, often remains uncontrolled or undiagnosed, particularly within underrepresented patient groups presenting to emergency departments (EDs). The high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in these populations underscores a significant health disparity. Engaging patients in the ED setting for early risk assessment and stratification represents a feasible and potentially cost-effective strategy to address these gaps in hypertension management and improve long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 574 participants. The trial investigated conditions including Hypertension, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Vascular Diseases. The primary objective was to determine the effectiveness of an emergency department-initiated intervention. The study was designed as a two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing an Educational and Empowerment Intervention against Usual Care for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with elevated blood pressure.
Key results
The trial reported key measurements related to changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 3 and 6 months post-intervention:
- Mean Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) Difference at 6 Months Post-intervention Compared to Usual Care:
- For the Usual Care group, the mean SBP difference was -9.2 mmHg (Standard Deviation 24.4).
- For the Educational and Empowerment Intervention group, the mean SBP difference was -14.0 mmHg (Standard Deviation 19.3).
- Mean Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) Differences at 3 Months Post-intervention Compared to Usual Care:
- For the Usual Care group, the mean SBP difference was -9.8 mmHg (Standard Deviation 22.5).
- For the Educational and Empowerment Intervention group, the mean SBP difference was -14 mmHg (Standard Deviation 20.5).
- Mean Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) Differences at 3 Months Post-intervention Compared to Usual Care:
- For the Usual Care group, the mean DBP difference was -1.5 mmHg (Standard Deviation 13.4).
- For the Educational and Empowerment Intervention group, the mean DBP difference was -2.4 mmHg (Standard Deviation 11.7).
- Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) Difference at 6 Months Post-intervention Compared to Usual Care:
- For the Usual Care group, the mean DBP difference was -1.3 mmHg (Standard Deviation 14.5).
- For the Educational and Empowerment Intervention group, the mean DBP difference was -3.3 mmHg (Standard Deviation 12.1).
What this means
The results suggest that an emergency department-initiated educational and empowerment intervention can lead to greater reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 3 and 6 months compared to usual care. The observed differences, particularly the 14.0 mmHg mean SBP reduction in the intervention group at 6 months, indicate a potential benefit for patients with uncontrolled hypertension. These findings support the utility of ED-based interventions as a strategy to improve hypertension management and address health disparities, especially in underrepresented populations.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03749499, titled "Targeting of UnControlled Hypertension in Emergency Department", were posted on 2025-06-18 on clinicaltrials.gov.