RecruitingNot Applicable

Autonomic Regulation of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate During Orthostasis and Exercise in Healthy and Hypertensive Individuals

Slovenia120 participantsStarted 2025-10-15

Plain-language summary

The goal of this observational study is to assess arterial stiffness and autonomic regulation of blood pressure and heart rate in healthy adults and people with arterial hypertension during orthostatic stress and graded physical exercise. The main objective is to analyze cardiovascular responses to exercise on a cycle ergometer in different subgroups of participants with hypertension. The study includes healthy young adults and older adults with hypertension. Participants undergo standardized assessments including orthostatic testing, graded exercise testing on a cycle ergometer, electrocardiography, and measurement of arterial stiffness parameters such as pulse wave velocity, as well as other vascular and hemodynamic parameters. The results of this study are expected to improve understanding of cardiovascular physiology and autonomic regulation in people with hypertension and may contribute to earlier recognition of autonomic dysfunction and improved clinical management.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy volunteers aged 18-35 years without known acute or chronic disease, non-smokers, body mass index (BMI) 20-24.9 kg/m², and negative orthostatic test * Participants aged ≥60 years with arterial hypertension followed at the Department of Hypertension * Hypertension group: controlled arterial hypertension, negative orthostatic test, without diabetes mellitus * Hypertension with orthostatic hypotension group: controlled arterial hypertension and positive orthostatic test indicating orthostatic hypotension * Hypertension with orthostatic hypertension group: controlled arterial hypertension and positive orthostatic test indicating a rise in blood pressure during orthostatic testing * Hypertension with diabetes mellitus group: controlled arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus without previously diagnosed autonomic dysfunction * Ability to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Dementia, neurodegenerative disease, or cognitive impairment preventing understanding of study procedures * Known cardiovascular disease including heart failure (NYHA II-IV), myocardial infarction within the previous 6 months, clinically significant arrhythmias, or peripheral arterial occlusive disease * Uncontrolled arterial hypertension * Change in antihypertensive therapy within the previous 4 weeks * Presence of a cardiac pacemaker * Treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs (class I, III, or IV), digoxin, alpha-receptor blockers, or other medications known to…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Heart Rate Variability

Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1 study visit)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07482462

SponsorUniversity Medical Centre Ljubljana

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2026-12

Contact for this trial

Amela Kabaklić, MD, PhD

+386 1 522 43 05 amela.kabaklic@kclj.si

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hypertension trials