Impact of Reducing Antihypertensive Treatment on Mortality in Frail Subjects With Low Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP). (RETREAT-FRAIL)

Impact of Reducing Antihypertensive Treatment on Mortality in Frail Subjects With Low Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP). Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Study of Subjects Aged 80 and Over, Living in Nursing Homes and Other IMS.

The investigators hypothesize that a gradual reduction in antihypertensive treatment in medical-social institutions patients with low systolic blood pressure (SBP) can improve survival through a controlled increase in SBP and a decrease in secondary morbidity due to 'overmedication'.

Accordingly, the investigators propose a randomized, case/control trial in NH patients ≥ 80 years with a SBP<130 mmHg with >1 anti-Htn drugs. This trial will consist of two parallel arms: the intervention arm will entail antihypertensive drug step-down, while the control arm will comprise the standard anti-hypertensive treatment.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

High blood pressure (BP), principally systolic hypertension, is a common condition in older people and is considered a major determinant not only of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but also of several other age-related diseases, including frailty, cognitive decline and loss of autonomy. The Hypertension in the Very Elderly Treatment (HYVET) study showed the beneficial effect of antihypertensive treatment in patients ≥ 80 years. More recently, the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) study showed that even in subjects 75 years and older, CVD outcomes and total mortality were reduced with intensive treatment as compared to the standard therapeutic strategies. However, both HYVET and SPRINT were conducted in selected populations since they excluded the most frail subjects, those with clinically significant cognitive decline and dementia, those with several cardiovascular and other co-morbidities, as well as patients living in medical-social institutions.

  • Interestingly, observational studies in these frail people, have shown no or even an inverse relationship between BP and morbidity and mortality. The PARTAGE longitudinal study was performed in 1130 subjects ≥ 80 years living in medical-social institutions. These subjects were receiving at mean 7.1 drugs/day; 2/3 of them were under antihypertensive drugs (mean 2.2 drugs/day). The PARTAGE study showed an over-mortality in hypertensive subjects with low SBP (<130 mmHg) treated with 2 or more antihypertensive drugs. These individuals, who represented 20% of the total studied population, exhibited 80% increase in mortality compared to all other groups, even after adjustment for several comorbidities.
  • The recent European guidelines for hypertension indicate that in people ≥ 80 years with SBP≥160 mmHg there is evidence to recommend reducing SBP to between 150 and 140 mmHg. However, no recommendation exists on which strategy to follow if treatment decreases SBP to lower levels (ex: 120 mmHg) especially on the more frail and polymedicated patients of that age. Thus, in this case, physicians can either continue the same treatment of reduce the number of drugs.
  • These contrasting results in old hypertensives reflects the enormous functional heterogeneity among individual of this age-group and clearly show that functional status rather than chronological age should guide therapeutic strategies. Thus, the guidelines for robust older individuals cannot be extrapolated to very old, frail individuals, who have been completely excluded from the above-mentioned clinical trials.

The only way is to conduct a controlled clinical trial.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

1048

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Angoulême, France, 16000
        • CHU Angoulême (Expert center)
      • Angoulême, France, 16000
        • Font Douce (Nursing Home)
      • Auray, France, 56400
        • Keriolet (Nursing Home)
      • Auray, France, 56400
        • Kerleano (Nursing Home)
      • Avrillé, France, 49240
        • Le Parc de la Plesse (Nursing Home)
      • Bains-les-Bains, France, 88240
        • Sentiers d'Automne (Nursing Home)
      • Bainville sur Madon, France, 54550
        • Parisot (Nursing Home)
      • Bar-sur-Seine, France, 10110
        • EHPAD du CH (Nursing Home)
      • Bar-sur-Seine, France, 10110
        • EHPAD Fontarce (Nursing Home)
      • Bar-sur-Seine, France, 10110
        • USLD du CH (Nursing Home)
      • Bayon, France, 54290
        • Saint Charles (Nursing Home)
      • Bayonne, France, 64100
        • Argia (Nursing Home)
      • Bayonne, France, 64100
        • EHPAD du Prisse (Nursing home)
      • Bayonne, France, 64100
        • Goxoki (Nursing Home)
      • Beauvallon, France, 26800
        • EHPAD CH de Valence (Nursing home)
      • Bordeaux, France, 33000
        • CHU Bordeaux (Expert center)
      • Bouguenais, France, 44340
        • La Croix Du Gue (Nursing Home)
      • Bouxières-aux-Dames, France, 54136
        • Poincaré (Nursing Home)
      • Béziers, France, 34500
        • EHPAD Simone de Beauvoir (Nursing Home)
      • Béziers, France, 34500
        • Espace Perréal (Nursing Home)
      • Béziers, France, 34500
        • USLD Espace Perréal (Nursing Home)
      • Carcassonne, France, 11000
        • Les Rives d'Ode (Nursing Home)
      • Castelnau-le-Lez, France, 34057
        • Les jardin de Sophia (Nursing Home)
      • Castres, France, 81090
        • EHPAD de Monges (Nursing Home)
      • Castres, France, 81090
        • La Villégiale Saint Jacques (Nursing Home)
      • Charmes, France, 88130
        • Saint Martin (Nursing Home)
      • Charmois-l'Orgueilleux, France, 88270
        • Saint Jean (Nursing Home)
      • Cherbourg, France, 50100
        • EHPAD CH Cotentin Pasteur (Nursing Home)
      • Colmar, France, 68000
        • Centre pour Personnes Agées (Nursing Home)
      • Colmar, France, 68000
        • Diaconnat (Nursing home)
      • Coubron, France, 93470
        • Chantereine-Orpea (Nursing Home)
      • Dax, France, 40088
        • Le Hameau de Saubagnacq (Nursing Home)
      • Dijon, France, 21000
        • CHU Dijon (Expert center)
      • Dijon, France, 21000
        • EHPAD CHU Dijon Bourgogne (Nursing Home)
      • Dijon, France, 21000
        • Les Bégonias (Nursing Home)
      • Dijon, France, 21000
        • Les marguerites (Nursing Home)
      • Dijon, France, 21000
        • Port du Canal (Nursing Home)
      • Eaubonne, France, 95600
        • EHPAD Simone Veil (Nursing Home)
      • Essey-lès-Nancy, France, 54270
        • Bas-Château (Nursing Home)
      • Fontaine-lès-Dijon, France, 21121
        • Belfontaine (Nursing Home)
      • Granges-sur-Vologne, France, 88640
        • Accueil Vologne (Nursing Home)
      • Guémené penfao, France, 44290
        • Vallée Don (Nursing Home)
      • La Talaudière, France, 42350
        • EHPAD Orpéa (Nursing home)
      • Lay-Saint-Christophe, France, 54690
        • Baudinet De Courcelles (Nursing home)
      • Lille, France, 59000
        • CHU Lille (Expert center)
      • Lille, France, 59000
        • Les Bateliers (Nursing Home)
      • Lille, France, 59000
        • Saint Antoine de Padoue (Nursing Home)
      • Lormont, France, 33310
        • EHPAD de Lormont (Nursing Home)
      • Ludres, France, 54710
        • Sainte Thérèse (Nursing Home)
      • Lunéville, France, 54300
        • Saint Charles (Nursing Home)
      • Lyon, France, 69000
        • CHU Lyon (Expert center)
      • Lyon, France, 69000
        • EHPAD Constant (Nursing Home)
      • Marseille, France, 13000
        • La Renaissance-Orpea (Nursing Home)
      • Maxéville, France, 54320
        • Bon repos (Nursing Home)
      • Maxéville, France, 54320
        • Saint Sauveur (Nursing Home)
      • Metz, France, 57000
        • Félix Marechal (Nursing Home)
      • Mont-de-Marsan, France, 40192
        • USLD Nouvielle (Nursing Home)
      • Montmorency, France, 78428
        • Coteaux de Montmorency (Nursing Home)
      • Montmorency, France, 78428
        • Jeanne Callarec (Nursing Home)
      • Montpellier, France, 34000
        • Antonin Balmès (Nursing Home)
      • Montpellier, France, 34000
        • CHU Montpellier (Expert center)
      • Montpellier, France, 34000
        • CSPA Bellevue (Nursing Home)
      • Muret, France, 31600
        • EHPAD du CH (Nursing Home)
      • Nancy, France, 54000
        • Les Cygnes (Nursing Home)
      • Nancy, France, 54000
        • Notre Maison (Nursing home)
      • Nancy, France, 54000
        • Saint Charles EHPAD (Nursing Home)
      • Nancy, France, 54000
        • Saint Charles USLD (Nursing Home)
      • Nancy, France, 54000
        • Saint Joseph (Nursing Home)
      • Nancy, France, 54000
        • Saint Stanislas (Nursing Home)
      • Nancy, France, 54500
        • Gériatrie - CHRU de Nancy (Expert center)
      • Nantes, France, 44000
        • Beauséjour (Nursing Home)
      • Nantes, France, 44000
        • CHU Nantes (Expert center)
      • Nantes, France, 44000
        • La Chézalière LNA Santé (Nursing Home)
      • Nice, France, 06000
        • CHU Nice (Expert center)
      • Nice, France, 06000
        • EHPAD Cimiez du CHU (Nursing Home)
      • Nogent-sur-Seine, France, 10400
        • EHPAD GHAM (Nursing Home)
      • Oberhausbergen, France, 67205
        • Bethel (Nursing Home)
      • Olonne-sur-Mer, France, 85340
        • Les Jardins d'Olonne (Nursing Home)
      • Paimboeuf, France, 44560
        • Résidence Mer et Estuaire (Nursing Home)
      • Paris, France, 75000
        • APHP (Expert center)
      • Paris, France, 75013
        • EHPAD Broca (Nursing Home)
      • Paris, France, 75013
        • La Collégiale (Nursing Home)
      • Paris, France, 75013
        • Saint Jacques Orpea (Nursing Home)
      • Paris, France, 75016
        • Trocadéro-Orpéa (Nursing Home)
      • Pessac, France, 33318
        • USLD Pessac (Nursing Home)
      • Pompey, France, 54340
        • Avant-Garde (Nursing Home)
      • Pompey, France, 54340
        • La Salle (Nursing Home)
      • Pont-Sainte-Marie, France, 10150
        • Nazareth (Nursing Home)
      • Portieux, France, 88330
        • Saint Jean (Nursing Home)
      • Périgueux, France, 24000
        • CHU Périgueux (Expert center)
      • Périgueux, France, 24000
        • EHPAD Parrot (Nursing Home)
      • Raon-l'Étape, France, 88110
        • Jacques Mellez (Nursing Home)
      • Reims, France, 51100
        • CHU Reims (Expert center)
      • Reims, France, 51454
        • AHPAD AB2 Wilson (Nursing Home)
      • Reims, France, 51454
        • Résidence Roux CHU Reims (Nursing Home)
      • Romilly sur Seine, France, 10100
        • Le Clos des platanes (Nursing Home)
      • Romilly-sur-Seine, France, 10100
        • Julien Monnard (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France, 44250
        • EHPAD Mer Et Pins (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France, 44250
        • Mer et Pins Fleur d'Ajonc (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France, 44250
        • Mer et Pins les Sylphes (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France, 88100
        • Saint Deodat (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Genest, France, 88700
        • EHPAD de Saint Genest (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, 64500
        • Udazkena (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Max, France, 54130
        • Hotel Club (Nursing Home)
      • Saint-Étienne, France, 42000
        • Fauriel (Nursing Home)
      • Senones, France, 88210
        • EHPAD De Senones (Nursing Home)
      • Strasbourg, France, 67000
        • CHU Strasbourg (Expert center)
      • Strasbourg, France, 67000
        • EHPAD Bois Fleuri (Nursing Home)
      • Strasbourg, France, 67000
        • EHPAD CHRU Robertsau (Nursing Home)
      • Sézanne, France, 51120
        • EHPAD Sézanne (Nursing Home)
      • Taluyers, France, 69440
        • La Christinière ACPPA (Nursing Home)
      • Thiaucourt-Regniéville, France, 54470
        • Sainte Sophie (Nursing Home)
      • Toulouse, France, 31000
        • CHU Toulouse (Expert center)
      • Toulouse, France, 31000
        • Jolimont Marengo Orpea (Nursing Home)
      • Toulouse, France, 31200
        • Clinique les Minimes (Nursing Home)
      • Tournan-en-Brie, France, 77220
        • Klarene-Orpea (Nursing Home)
      • Valognes, France, 50700
        • CHP Cotentin Simone Veil (Nursing Home)
      • Vannes, France, 56000
        • EHPAD Maison du Lac (Nursing Home)
      • Vannes, France, 56000
        • USLD Maison du Lac (Nursing Home)
      • Verdun, France, 55100
        • Sainte Catherine (Nursing Home)
      • Ville-sur-Illon, France, 88270
        • Saint Joseph (Nursing Home)
      • Villers-Allerand, France, 51500
        • Montagne de Reims (Nursing home)
      • Villers-lès-Nancy, France, 54600
        • Villa Saint-Pierre (Nursing Home)
      • Xertigny, France, 88220
        • Les Buissons (Nursing Home)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

80 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female patients aged 80 and over
  • Patients living in nursing homes
  • Patients with a SBP < 130 mmHg measured in Medical-Social Institutions using the connected blood pressure monitor supplied for the study (average of the last 2 out of 3 measurements after 10 min rest)
  • Hypertensive patients whose treatment contains at least 2 antihypertensive molecules and whose treatment has been stabilised for at least :

    • 3 weeks in the case of the introduction or discontinuation of an anti-HBP drug
    • 2 weeks in the case of a change in the dosage of one of the anti-HBP drugs.
  • Patients affiliated to a social security scheme
  • Patients who have signed the informed consent form (failing which, the legal representative)
  • Patients with dementia or with a severe reduction in physical function (impaired vision, asthenia, advanced osteoarthritis, severe tremors, etc.) and/or cognitive function may be included in this study with the agreement of their carers or family/relatives.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients in whom no antihypertensive molecule can be reduced for specific reasons (heart failure with ejection fraction <40%, fluid retention due to heart failure, coronary artery disease and diabetic nephropathy).
  • Patients with an estimated life expectancy of <3 months
  • Patients who have already been included in this study or in another study at the same time

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: 1: Interventional (drug reduction)

STEP DOWN strategy.

Proposition of reduction of the number of antihypertensive medication according to:

  • the systolic blood pressure levels,
  • co-morbidities

reduction of the number of antihypertensive medication according to:

  • the systolic blood pressure levels,
  • co-morbidities
Other: 2: Control
Usual treatment
usual treatment

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
All-cause mortality
Time Frame: up to 48 months
All-cause mortality in each of the two groups during follow-up (maximum 48 months depending on when the patient was included).
up to 48 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cause of death
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Occurrence of major CV events (myocardial infarction, hospitalisation for heart failure, stroke, other serious CV complication requiring specific management or hospitalisation)
up to 48 months
Blood pressure analysis
Time Frame: up to 48 months
SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP) and heart rate (HR) in the sitting position (or supine if sitting is not possible) and standing position (if possible), during the 24 to 48 month follow-up period.s
up to 48 months
Evaluation of frailty
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Frailty tests: weight, muscle strength (handgrip), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and assessment of independence using the ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scale every 6 months during the follow-up period at medical visits.
up to 48 months
Evaluation of cognitive function
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Assessment of cognitive functions by MMSE (Mini Mental State Evaluation) every six months during the follow-up period at medical visits.
up to 48 months
Assesment of fall and fractures
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Number of falls and fractures
up to 48 months
Medication assessment
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Total number of medications: number of antihypertensive medications during the 24 to 48 month follow-up period.
up to 48 months
Evaluation of Quality of life
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Quality of life scales (EQ 5D) once a year during the follow-up period at medical visits.
up to 48 months
Onset of cardiac decompensation
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Occurrence of cardiac decompensation, whether fatal or not, and monitoring of changes in blood pressure.
up to 48 months
Patient at high risk of decompensation
Time Frame: up to 48 months
Number of patients at high risk of cardiac decompensation.
up to 48 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Athanase BENETOS, MD, PhD, CHRU NANCY - Pôle Gérontologie

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 2, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 15, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

August 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 31, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 26, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

March 5, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 20, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 16, 2025

Last Verified

July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • P160602J
  • 2017-A01646-47 (Other Identifier: IDRCB)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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