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Smoking Study With Behavioral Therapy for Hypertensive Patients

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Cigarette Smoking
Hypertension
Interventions
Behavioral: behavioral therapy
Registration Number
NCT00879177
Lead Sponsor
UConn Health
Brief Summary

In total, 260 patients with pre- and stage I hypertension, who are regular smokers, will be randomized to: varenicline alone or varenicline plus behavioral therapy. Patients in both conditions will receive varenicline (titrated to a maximal dose of 1.0 mg twice daily) for 12 weeks along with standard smoking cessation therapy and regular carbon monoxide (CO) and cotinine monitoring. A significantly higher proportion of behavioral therapy patients are expected to achieve and maintain long durations of abstinence than patients receiving varenicline alone. Clinic and 24-hour blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) will be primary clinical outcomes. The investigators expect that BP and HR will decrease more among behavioral therapy than non-behavioral therapy patients and reductions in smoking may mediate decreases in these indices.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
203
Inclusion Criteria
  • regular smokers, with no period of abstinence exceeding 3 months in past year
  • expired CO of at least 8 ppm
  • self-reported desire to stop smoking
  • at least 18 years of age
  • resting systolic BP of 120-160 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of 80-100 mmHg but otherwise in good health (see exclusion criteria)
  • if on antihypertensive medication, have not changed medications during the previous month and do not intend to change in the next 3 months
  • English speaking
Exclusion Criteria
  • receipt of smoking cessation treatment (behavioral or pharmacological) in the past month
  • serious or unstable medical disease within the past 6 months, including myocardial infarction, cancer, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, or seizures
  • evidence or history of allergic reactions contraindicating varenicline use or clinically significant laboratory or electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities
  • breastfeeding, pregnant or not using effective contraception if a woman of childbearing potential
  • arm circumference of >42 cm, which precludes accurate BP monitoring
  • serious psychiatric illness in past 6 months (e.g., schizophrenia, psychosis, suicide risk, drug or alcohol dependence other than nicotine)
  • use of tobacco containing products other than cigarettes in past month and do not agree to abstain from use of these products during study participation
  • ongoing use of any of the following medications: nicotine replacement therapies, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, or naltrexone
  • in recovery for pathological gambling

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group Bbehavioral therapyStudy drug (varenicline) for 12 weeks, brief smoking cessation counseling for 5 weeks, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at Weeks 6 and 24, and behavioral therapy for Weeks 2-5.
Group BVareniclineStudy drug (varenicline) for 12 weeks, brief smoking cessation counseling for 5 weeks, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at Weeks 6 and 24, and behavioral therapy for Weeks 2-5.
Group AVareniclineStudy drug (varenicline) for 12 weeks, brief smoking cessation counseling for 5 weeks, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at Weeks 6 and 24.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Short-term and long-term smoking abstinence and improved health benefitsWeeks 5,6,8,12,24,36,52
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Decrease in blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive subjectsWeek 6 and Week 24

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Connecticut Health Center

🇺🇸

Farmington, Connecticut, United States

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