NCT01434953

Prehypertension Labeling

Diagnostic Labeling: Effect on White Coat Hypertension

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (actual)
• Sponsor: Columbia University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out whether labeling adults with prehypertension has negative effects on clinic blood pressure and quality of life 3 months after diagnosis.

Detailed description

Previous research has shown that a diagnosis of hypertension is associated with subsequent increases in resting blood pressure, and there is preliminary evidence of a cross-sectional association between hypertension labeling and the white coat effect. The white coat effect may be particularly problematic in prehypertensives, because a small elevation in clinic blood pressure could result in crossing the diagnostic cutoff for hypertension, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. This study will examine effects of prehypertension labeling on clinic and ambulatory blood pressure, and will examine potential psychological mediators of these associations.

Conditions

• Prehypertension

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Labeled prehypertension	A study physician informs subjects of their blood pressure level. Subjects are told they have prehypertension and are informed of the associated health risks.
BEHAVIORAL	Unlabeled prehypertension	A study physician informs subjects of their blood pressure level. The term "prehypertension" is not used and associated health risks are not discussed.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-07-13
• Primary completion: 2012-07-09
• Completion: 2012-07-09
• First posted: 2011-09-15
• Last updated: 2017-07-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States