Breathing Exercises to Lower Blood Pressure in Adults with Kidney Disease

Inspiratory muscle strength training for lowering systolic blood pressure in midlife and older adults with chronic kidney disease

NIH-funded research University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11132669

This project explores whether a special type of breathing exercise can help midlife and older adults with chronic kidney disease manage their high blood pressure.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado Denver NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11132669 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many adults with chronic kidney disease struggle to control their high blood pressure, which can lead to heart problems and worsening kidney issues. While lifestyle changes like exercise are recommended, they can be hard to stick with. This project looks at a simple, short daily breathing exercise using a small device that helps strengthen your breathing muscles. We want to see if this exercise can effectively lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel health in people with chronic kidney disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are midlife and older adults, aged 21 and above, who have chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure that is difficult to control.

Not a fit: Patients whose blood pressure is already well-controlled or who are unable to perform inspiratory breathing exercises may not receive benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new, easy-to-follow way for patients with chronic kidney disease to lower their blood pressure and reduce their risk of heart and kidney complications.

How similar studies have performed: A previous pilot project showed that this breathing exercise had excellent patient adherence and successfully lowered blood pressure in a small group of participants.

Where this research is happening

Aurora, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.