Choosing the best second blood pressure medicine

Real-world Evidence to Inform Decisions for Hypertension Treatment Escalation

NIH-funded research Yale University · NIH-11128834

Compares commonly added second blood-pressure medicines to find which work best and are safest for adults whose blood pressure isn't controlled on one drug.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project IDNIH-11128834 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will use large real-world health records and insurance claims to compare what happens when people on one blood-pressure medicine have a second medicine added. They will look at blood pressure control and at side effects such as kidney problems or swelling. The team will analyze outcomes across different patient groups and initial medications to see if certain combinations work better for specific people. Findings will be used to guide doctors and to design future clinical trials.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (21+) with high blood pressure who are taking one antihypertensive medication but still have uncontrolled blood pressure.

Not a fit: People already on two or more blood-pressure medicines, children, or those whose medical records are not included in the datasets analyzed are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help doctors choose the safest and most effective second medicine so more patients achieve better blood pressure control with fewer side effects.

How similar studies have performed: Prior observational studies of medical records and claims have provided useful insights, but direct head-to-head randomized trials comparing second agents are limited, so this real-world approach addresses an important evidence gap.

Where this research is happening

New Haven, 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 2026-06-13 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.