Sleep and Circadian Mechanisms in Hypertension

NCT05184933 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IRB00023776
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study is a mechanistic clinical trial designed to investigate the effects of the circadian system and sleep on non-dipping blood pressure (BP) in people with hypertension (HTN).

Conditions

Hypertension; Cardiovascular Diseases; Circadian Rhythms; Sleep; Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Keywords

cardiovascular; circadian rhythms; sleep; blood pressure; constant routine; microneurography; hypertension; sleep regularization

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (12)

• Sleep duration (At-home Polysomnography)

  Sleep duration will be scored from the ActiGraph and correlated with the sleep and activity diary. Sleep duration measures the amount of time asleep (in minutes).

  1-2 nights

• Sleep Episodes (At-home Polysomnography)

  Sleep episodes will be polysomnographically recorded and scored in 30-sec epochs for sleep stage, arousals, and respiratory events on SomnoMedics Domino Software. Values (based on software analysis) provide a description of what aspects of sleep are different between participants.

  1-2 nights

• Blood pressure (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Blood pressure (BP; systolic and diastolic) will be measured in a supine or semi-recumbent position. Investigators will measure beat-by-beat BP using a noninvasive device employing the volume-clamp method with hydrostatic correction. Investigators will measure BP using a calibrated sphygmomanometer to record sporadic BP at regular intervals throughout the protocols. Investigators will study circadian rhythms in blood pressure between people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also study how overnight sleep affects blood pressure in these groups. Investigators will also study ancillary variables such as morning surge in blood pressure. All blood pressure measurements will be measured in mmHg.

  7 days

• Heart rate (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Heart rate will be measured in beats-per-minute (bpm). This is a standard marker of cardiovascular health.

  7 days

• Heart rate variability (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  For the duration of all in-laboratory studies, three channels of EKG are recorded (RA-V6) and stored at a sampling frequency of 256 Hz. This software will be used for peak detection (R-wave detection and subsequent heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to estimate cardiac vagal tone). Investigators will study circadian rhythms in heart rate between people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also study how overnight sleep affects heart rate variability in these groups. This is a measure of cardiac parasympathetic activity and cardiovascular health.

  7 days

• Epinephrine (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Plasma epinephrine (measured in plasma according to laboratory values) will be measured to estimate sympathetic output (stress). Higher values may indicate increased cardiovascular risk. Investigators will study circadian rhythms in Epinephrine between people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also study how overnight sleep affects Epinephrine in these groups.

  7 days

• Norepinephrine (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Plasma norepinephrine (measured in plasma according to laboratory values) will be measured to estimate sympathetic output (stress). Higher values may indicate increased cardiovascular risk. Investigators will study circadian rhythms in Norepinephrine between people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also study how overnight sleep affects Norepinephrine in these groups.

  7 days

• Aldosterone (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Plasma aldosterone (measured in plasma according to laboratory values) will be measured to estimate sympathetic output (stress). Higher values may indicate increased cardiovascular risk. Investigators will study circadian rhythms in Aldosterone between people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also study how overnight sleep affects Aldosterone in these groups.

  7 days

• Renin (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Plasma renin/activity (measured in plasma according to laboratory values) will be measured to estimate sympathetic output (stress). Higher values may indicate increased cardiovascular risk. Investigators will also study circadian rhythms in renin between people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also study how overnight sleep affects renin in these groups.

  7 days

• Vascular endothelial function (Circadian and Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Investigators will measure endothelial function as flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Investigators will measure brachial artery FMD using standard procedures every 3 hours in the constant routine protocol and while awake during the overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial. Investigators will also normalize FMD to the hyperemic shear. Investigators will study circadian rhythms in vascular function in people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also study if overnight sleep changes morning vascular function between these groups. Vascular function may be an indicator of cardiovascular health.

  7 days

• Magnitude of overnight blood pressure dipping (Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial)

  Blood Pressure (BP) dipping will be calculated as the percent reduction in average nighttime BP reduction compared to daytime BP. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured in mmHg. Blood pressure dipping status may be an indicator of cardiovascular health. Investigators will study whether being asleep or not changes the magnitude of dipping between dipping and non-dipping hypertension. Investigators will also measure ancillary variables such as average daytime BP, night time BP, and morning surge in BP.

  2 days

• Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) (Overnight sleep vs. rested wakefulness trial and circadian trial)

  MSNA may be directly measured by inserting a tungsten microelectrode (Frederick Haer, Bowdoinham, ME) into a peroneal nerve at the popliteal fossa. A reference electrode will be inserted subcutaneously 2-3 cm from the recording electrode. Both electrodes will be connected to a differential preamplifier and then to an amplifier to obtain mean voltage neurograms. Once investigators have confirmed a satisfactory post-ganglionic MSNA recording, the participants will be provided a 10 min non-recorded rest to ensure baseline levels. Data will be recorded using WinDaq/Pro data acquisition software (DATAQ Instruments, Akron, OH) and imported for analysis in the commercially available WinCPRS software program (Absolute Aliens; Turku, Finland). Investigators will also study how overnight sleep affects MSNA in these groups. Investigators may also study circadian rhythms in MSNA between people with dipping vs non-dipping hypertension.

  7 days

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Ambulatory blood pressure (Sleep regularization trial)

  2 weeks

• Blood pressure dipping status (Sleep regularization trial)

  2 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Dipping vs non-dipping HTN

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (SpaceLabs, Inc.) which will take their blood pressure in 20-30-minute intervals for 24-48 hours to determine blood pressure dipping status. All participants in this arm will complete the experiments in this order: 1. At-home polysomnography; 2. Constant Routine protocol; 3. Rested Wakefulness Trial AND Overnight Sleep Trial (Randomized crossover); 4. Sleep Regularization Trial

Other: At-home Polysomnography; Other: Circadian Protocol; Other: Rested Wakefulness Trial; Other: Overnight Sleep Trial; Behavioral: Regularized Sleep Schedule

Interventions

At-home Polysomnography OTHER

Participants will complete one night of unattended polysomnography in their home environment (SOMNOtouch RESP, SOMNOmedics America Inc., FL, USA).

Dipping vs non-dipping HTN

Circadian Protocol OTHER

Participants will spend 4 days/3 nights in the laboratory to uncover circadian rhythms. After 2 nights for acclimatization and baseline measurements, participants will stay awake for 28 hours in dim light, constant temperature, and semi-recumbent posture. Participants will be provided with standardized snacks regularly. Polysomnography, core body temperature, sleep, finger oximetry, electrocardiogram (ECG), and beat-to-beat BP will (except microneurography) be measured throughout. Blood will be drawn every 2-4h to analyze catecholamines, renin activity, and aldosterone. All other measurements, including BP, heart rate (HR), and flow-mediated dilation will be performed regularly. Salivary samples will be collected every 2hrs (when awake) to analyze melatonin levels. A recovery sleep period will be provided and baseline testing procedures will be performed. Investigators may acquire direct recordings of sympathetic activity using microneurography.

Also known as: Constant Routine

Dipping vs non-dipping HTN

Rested Wakefulness Trial OTHER

Participants will start wearing an ambulatory BP monitor upon admission. Participants will be instrumented with full polysomnography (except leg myogram), and an intravenous catheter will be placed in the non-dominant arm. Participants will receive a standardized snack, and dinner \~4 hours before the start of the trial. Participants will be instrumented for microneurography. Participants will be awake in bed in dim light (\<8 lux). An investigator will constantly be present in the control room to monitor and ensure constant supine posture and wakefulness. Polysomnography, beat-by-beat BP, and neurogram for microneurography will be done throughout each trial into awakening; blood will be sampled before, during, and immediately after each trial (total of 8 samples in each trial). Flow-mediated dilation will be conducted before bed and after bed. The two trials will be conducted \~one month apart to accommodate the menstrual cycle phase in pre-menopausal females.

Also known as: Randomized crossover with overnight sleep trial

Dipping vs non-dipping HTN

Overnight Sleep Trial OTHER

Participants will wear an ambulatory BP monitor upon admission. Participants will be instrumented with full polysomnography (except leg myogram), and an intravenous catheter will be placed in the non-dominant arm, and then participants will receive a standardized snack, and dinner 4 hours before the start of the trial. Polysomnography, beat-by-beat BP, and neurogram for microneurography will be done throughout each trial into awakening; blood will be sampled before, during, and immediately after each trial (total of 8 samples in each trial). Participants will be instrumented for microneurography. Participants will begin an 8-hour sleep opportunity (\<0.1 lux) at their chosen sleep time. At the end of the sleep episode, participants will be gently awoken in a standardized fashion by use of a mild auditory stimulus. Flow-mediated dilation will be conducted before bed and after sleep. The two trials will be conducted one month apart to accommodate the menstrual cycle.

Also known as: Randomized crossover with rested wakefulness trial

Dipping vs non-dipping HTN

Regularized Sleep Schedule BEHAVIORAL

All participants will be asked to maintain a self-selected bedtime (sleep duration not controlled) for two weeks as an intervention after the completion of the constant routine and both the resting wakefulness and overnight sleep trials. During this time, participants will be asked to call a time-stamped voicemail box upon waking and going to bed, as well as complete a daily sleep diary and wear an Actigraph device on their wrist. Ambulatory blood pressure will be measured at home before and at the end of the two-week intervention.

Dipping vs non-dipping HTN

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Ages 25-64
• BMI 18.5-42kg/m2
• Hypertension (average resting blood pressure between 130/80 mmHg and 160/100 mmHg)

You may not qualify if:

• Over 5 pack-years of smoking;
• Prior shift work within 12 months prior to the study;
• Travel greater than three time zones for at least 3 months;
• History of heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or history of bypass surgery, angioplasty, or previous myocardial infarction;
• Acute or chronic diseases (except hypertension) that may affect outcome measures;
• History of psychological conditions;
• Sleep disorders, like severe sleep apnea, insomnia, etc.;
• Prescription medications (Contraceptives and anti-hypertensive medications are permissible);
• History of Illicit drug use and alcohol dependency;
• days free of cannabis use prior to the study;
• Pregnancy;
• Upper cut-off of 160/100 mmHg for BP

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oregon Health and Science University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Oregon Health and Science University

Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hypertension; Cardiovascular Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vascular Diseases

Study Officials

• Saurabh S Thosar, PhD

  Oregon Health and Science University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Nicole Chaudhary, MPH

CONTACT

5034945536; clinphys@ohsu.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: All participants will complete all parts of the study. The order of completion of the second experiment (Overnight Sleep and Rested Wakefulness trials) will be randomized.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2021
• First Posted: January 11, 2022
• Study Start: August 4, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 30, 2029
• Last Updated: February 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)