Trial results for the Pediatric Blood Pressure Clinical Decision Support Tool (PedsBP CDS) were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-01-22. The study, which enrolled 41,054 participants, demonstrated that the PedsBP CDS significantly improved blood pressure remeasurement (Adjusted OR 8.7, p=0.001) and hypertension recognition (Adjusted OR 2.94, p=0.049) in youth.
Background
Hypertension in pediatric populations is a critical concern due to its association with long-term cardiovascular disease risk. Early and accurate identification of high blood pressure in youth is essential for timely intervention. However, consistent recognition and follow-up are challenging, particularly in primary care and rural areas with limited access to pediatric subspecialty care. Clinical decision support tools can assist clinicians in making informed decisions, improving the identification and management of pediatric hypertension. This project aimed to adapt and implement a web-based clinical decision support tool to address this need in a rural health system.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 41,054 participants across 45 primary care clinics in 3 upper Midwest states. The trial investigated Hypertension in youth. The intervention involved a web-based clinical decision support tool designed to identify high blood pressure. The study compared different approaches to clinical decision support (CDS) implementation: a Control group, a Low-Intensity Implementation group, and a High-Intensity Implementation group.
Key results
Key measurements for blood pressure remeasurement and hypertension recognition were reported:
- Blood Pressure Remeasurement:
- Control group: 245 participants
- Low-Intensity Implementation group: 829 participants
- High-Intensity Implementation group: 1,813 participants
- Hypertension Recognition:
- Control group: 22 participants
- Low-Intensity Implementation group: 37 participants
- High-Intensity Implementation group: 121 participants
Generalized linear mixed models revealed significant effects of the intervention:
- For blood pressure re-measurement:
- A planned contrast of the Low + High study arms versus the Control study arm showed an Adjusted OR of 8.7 (p-value 0.001).
- A planned contrast of the Low versus High study arms showed an Adjusted OR of 3.45 (p-value 0.001).
- For hypertension recognition:
- A planned contrast of the Low + High study arms versus the Control study arm showed an Adjusted OR of 2.94 (p-value 0.049).
- A planned contrast of the Low versus High study arms showed an Adjusted OR of 2.31 (p-value 0.03).
What this means
The results indicate that implementing a pediatric blood pressure clinical decision support tool can significantly improve both the remeasurement of elevated blood pressure and the recognition of hypertension in children. The substantial adjusted odds ratios suggest a strong positive impact, particularly when comparing the combined intervention arms to the control group. These findings are highly relevant for primary care clinics, especially those in rural settings, by enhancing the identification of youth at risk for cardiovascular disease and supporting appropriate follow-up.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05126082, titled "Pediatric Blood Pressure Clinical Decision Support Tool (PedsBP CDS)", were posted on 2026-01-22 on clinicaltrials.gov.