Black Education and Treatment of Hypertension (BEAT HTN)

Summary

Clinical trials have yet to test the adequacy of HTN control in African Americans (AA) when both control and intervention groups are given free antihypertensive medications and are involved in usual versus intensive intervention strategies. Because of this, it has not yet been determined whether the method of prescribing antihypertensive medications according to JNC 7 guidelines is more, less, or equally as effective as prescribing antihypertensive medications and providing intensive behavioral and clinical interventions. Knowledge in this area of HTN treatment should better able medical and health practitioners to help their AA subjects control HTN. The BEAT Hypertension Clinic will evaluate this method of HTN control by proposing a program that will evaluate the difference in HTN control among subjects receiving usual care and free medications and subjects also receiving free medications, but additionally being treated in a clinic that operates in a more intensive manner in relationship to patient behavior modification, patient-clinician interactions, and physical and social environments. At the conclusion of the study, the BEAT Hypertension Clinic investigators will report findings and help to answer the question of whether medication alone or medication combined with intensive behavioral and clinical treatment is more effective in HTN control in the AA population.

Timeline

Start

2005-08

Primary completion

2009-08

Completion

2009-11

Drugs

Indications