Comparing cigarettes and e-cigarettes for older adults with high blood pressure
Official title: Comparative Cardiovascular Effects of Combustible and Electronic Cigarettes in Older Adults with Hypertension
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11453143 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study compares the effects of smoking vs. exclusive e-cigarette use on heart and blood vessel health in adults aged 50 and older with hypertension.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $116,625 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HL188068-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453143 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 50 and older with hypertension who currently smoke and are willing to use an authorized e-cigarette product for a short period.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not smoke or have uncontrolled hypertension may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
If you are 50 or older and have high blood pressure, you may participate in a small, short-term study where you would try two 14-day periods: one where you smoke as you normally do, and one where you use an authorized e-cigarette product instead. The researchers will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, and other cardiovascular health markers in the lab, as well as track how your body functions in daily life using remote measurements. The goal is to understand whether switching to e-cigarettes has different effects on cardiovascular health compared with continuing to smoke. Participation involves careful monitoring and two different 14-day phases, with support from the study team throughout. Results could help inform safer alternatives for people with hypertension who smoke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Participants may gain closer health monitoring and contribute to knowledge about safer alternatives for heart health in older adults who smoke.
How similar studies have gone: Similar crossover designs have provided insights into cardiovascular responses to tobacco products, but data in older adults with hypertension are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kleykamp, Bethea Annalouise — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Kleykamp, Bethea Annalouise
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.