News

New blood pressure study could reduce stroke risk - 09 February 2010

Patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) could reduce their risk of stroke and heart attack thanks to a new study at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

Pathways pic(Pictured left: research nurse Hannah Lanzon-Miller with a patient).

 

 


The study, Pathway, aims to uncover new ways of preventing and treating hypertension, which affects 16 million adults in the UK.

Hypertension specialist Dr Judith MacKay said: "Many patients with hypertension don't have their blood pressure ideally controlled and some appear to be resistant to certain drugs and need to take more than three forms of medication.

"With the Pathway study we hope to uncover the optimum combinations and dosages of medication for each individual and advise GPs on how to treat these patients - in turn reducing their risk of fatal conditions like heart attack and stroke."  

The study has three different strands or 'pathways' that will look at patients with mild to severe hypertension, as well as a subgroup of patients at risk of diabetes. All three pathways will trial different combinations of medication.  

Over 1,000 participants will take part in Pathway at eight hospitals in the UK.  

The study is open to people with high blood pressure who are willing to travel to St Mary's for hospital appointments.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Hannah Lanzon-Miller, research nurse, on 020 7594 1395 or email ciu@imperial.nhs.uk.  

Notes to editors

  • The three 'pathways':
    - Pathway 1: Investigating whether it's better to treat newly diagnosed patients with one or two medications
    - Pathway 2: Finding the best way to treat patients who are drug resistant (i.e. whose blood pressure has not fallen to recommended levels despite being treated with the three main types of drugs for hypertension
    - Pathway 3: Finding the most effective treatment for controlling blood pressure and blood sugar in patients who are at risk of developing diabetes
  • The study is being funded by the British Heart Foundation and conducted by the British Hypertension Society
  • The results will provide evidence to inform the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on treating hypertension
  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust comprises Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea, St Mary's and Western Eye hospitals. In partnership with Imperial College London, it is the UK's first academic health science centre (AHSC)
  • The AHSC was created to take the research discoveries it makes and translate them into new and improved treatments and techniques to directly benefit patients throughout the Trust

ENDS
For press enquiries contact:
Caroline Weller, communications manager
Telephone: 020 3312 1331
Email: caroline.weller@imperial.nhs.uk  

For patient enquiries contact:
Hannah Lanzon-Miller, research nurse
Telephone: 020 7594 1395
Email: ciu@imperial.nhs.uk