Feasibility study to assess the delivery of a novel isometric exercise intervention for people with stage 1 hypertension in the NHS: protocol for the IsoFIT-BP study including amendments to mitigate the risk of COVID-19

Pilot and Feasibility Studies

John Darby¹  Alan West¹  Maggie Smith¹  Melanie Rees-Roberts²  Chris K. Farmer²  Vanessa Short²  Katerina Gousia²  Katie Saxby²  Tracy Pellatt-Higgins²  Douglas MacInnes³  Ellie Santer⁴  Jonathan Wiles⁴  Jamie M. O’Driscoll⁴  Timothy Doulton⁵ 

[1]

[2]Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Kent

[3]Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University

[4]Faculty of Science, Engineering and Social Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University

[5]Renal Department East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

关键词: Isometric exercise;    Exercise;    Hypertension;    General practice;    Feasibility study;    COVID-19;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40814-021-00925-w

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Hypertension  (HTN) affects approximately 25% of the UK population and is a leading cause of mortality. Associated annual health care costs run into billions. National treatment guidance includes initial lifestyle advice, followed by anti-hypertensive medication if blood pressure (BP) remains high. However, adoption and adherence to recommended exercise guidelines, dietary advice and anti-hypertensive medication is poor. Four short bouts of isometric exercise (IE) performed 3 days per week (d/wk) at home elicits clinically significant reductions in BP in those with normal to high-normal BP. This study will determine the feasibility of delivering personalised IE to patients with stage 1 hypertension for whom lifestyle changes would be recommended before medication within NHS primary care. Methods This is a randomised controlled feasibility study. Participants were 18+ years, with stage 1 hypertension, not on anti-hypertensive medication and without significant medical contraindications. Trial arms will be standard lifestyle advice (control) or isometric wall squat exercise and standard lifestyle advice. Primary outcomes include the feasibility of healthcare professionals to deliver isometric exercise prescriptions in a primary care NHS setting and estimation of the variance of change in systolic BP. Secondary outcomes include accuracy of protocol delivery, execution of and adherence to protocol, recruitment rate, attrition, perception of intervention viability, cost, participant experience and accuracy of home BP. The study will last 18 months. Sample size of 100 participants (50 per arm) allows for 20% attrition and 6.5% incomplete data, based upon 74 (37 each arm) participants (two-sided 95% confidence interval, width of 1.33 and standard deviation of 4) completing 4 weeks. Ethical approval IRAS ID is 274676. Discussion Before the efficacy of this novel intervention to treat stage 1 hypertension can be investigated in any large randomised controlled trial, it is necessary to ascertain if it can be delivered and carried out in a NHS primary care setting. Findings could support IE viability as a prophylactic/alternative treatment option. Trial registration ISRCTN13472393 , registered 18 August 2020

【 授权许可】

Unknown